Tools for blood glucose control

Getting blood glucose levels under control - and keeping them under control - can be a tricky business and requires a lot of dedication and self-discipline. It involves constant monitoring, both on a daily basis and in the longer term.

Blood glucose monitoring

Blood glucose monitoring is probably the most important tool for people with diabetes today and is an essential part of any insulin treatment program.

Today, accurate blood glucose testing at home is a quick and relatively painless process. A drop of blood is obtained, usually by finger prick, and placed on a special reagent strip. Depending on the system used, the strip is either compared to a colour chart, or read by an electronic meter.

It is not only the testing that is important, but also what you do with the results. A good set of records needs to be maintained. Test results, insulin doses, levels of activity and changes to the normal daily routine should all be noted down. This information can then be used to make decisions regarding adjustments needed in your diabetes treatment.

HbA1c

Glucose in the blood attaches to haemaglobin, to form glycated haemaglobin or HbA1c. This happens at a rate which is determined by the blood glucose level. So, more glycated haemoglobin is formed when the blood glucose level is high.

HbA1c has become a reference standard for diabetes control. It gives a good indication of blood glucose levels over the previous
6 - 8 weeks.

Doctors are now using HbA1c to set targets for blood glucose control. It is also often used in assessing the risk of developing long-term complications.