What Is a Good Reading on a Glucose Meter

Ask a Dr.

I've but been diagnosed with diabetes and there'southward so much information, my mind is reeling. I know insulin levels and claret saccharide levels are important to monitor, but I know piddling about the procedure. For example, what is the normal range for blood carbohydrate?

Md's Response

One important goal of diabetes handling is to proceed the blood glucose levels near the normal range of 70 to 120 mg/dl before meals and under 140 mg/dl at two hours after eating.

Home claret saccharide (glucose) testing is an important office of controlling claret sugar. Blood glucose levels are usually tested before and after meals, and at bedtime. The blood carbohydrate level is typically determined by pricking a fingertip with a lancing device and applying the claret to a glucose meter, which reads the value. At that place are many meters on the market, for example, Accu-Check Reward, 1 Touch Ultra, Sure Step and Freestyle. Each meter has its own advantages and disadvantages (some use less blood, some have a larger digital readout, some take a shorter fourth dimension to give y'all results, etc.). The examination results are then used to aid patients make adjustments in medications, diets, and physical activities.

There are some interesting developments in blood glucose monitoring including continuous glucose sensors. The new continuous glucose sensor systems involve an implantable cannula placed but under the skin in the belly or in the arm. This cannula allows for frequent sampling of claret glucose levels. Attached to this is a transmitter that sends the data to a pager-like device. This device has a visual screen that allows the wearer to run into, not simply the electric current glucose reading, just as well the graphic trends. In some devices, the rate of alter of blood saccharide is also shown. There are alarms for low and high sugar levels. Sure models will alarm if the charge per unit of change indicates the wearer is at gamble for dropping or rising claret glucose also rapidly. I version is specifically designed to interface with their insulin pumps. In nearly cases the patient still must manually approve any insulin dose (the pump cannot blindly respond to the glucose information it receives, it tin only give a calculated proffer every bit to whether the wearer should requite insulin, and if then, how much). However, in 2013 the US FDA approved the first artificial pancreas type device, meaning an implanted sensor and pump combination that stops insulin commitment when glucose levels reach a certain low betoken. All of these devices need to exist correlated to fingersticks measurements for a few hours before they can office independently. The devices can and so provide readings for 3 to five days.

Diabetes experts feel that these claret glucose monitoring devices give patients a significant corporeality of independence to manage their disease process; and they are a great tool for education likewise. It is as well of import to remember that these devices can be used intermittently with fingerstick measurements. For example, a well-controlled patient with diabetes tin rely on fingerstick glucose checks a few times a solar day and do well. If they become ill, if they make up one's mind to embark on a new practise regimen, if they change their diet and so on, they tin can use the sensor to supplement their fingerstick regimen, providing more data on how they are responding to new lifestyle changes or stressors. This kind of system takes united states one step closer to closing the loop, and to the development of an artificial pancreas that senses insulin requirements based on glucose levels and the body'south needs and releases insulin accordingly - the ultimate goal.

Hemoglobin A1c (HBA1c)

To explain what hemoglobin A1c is, think in uncomplicated terms. Carbohydrate sticks, and when it's effectually for a long fourth dimension, information technology'southward harder to get information technology off. In the trunk, sugar sticks also, especially to proteins. The scarlet blood cells that circulate in the body live for about three months before they dice off. When saccharide sticks to these hemoglobin proteins in these cells, information technology is known every bit glycosylated hemoglobin or hemoglobin A1c (HBA1c). Measurement of HBA1c gives us an thought of how much saccharide is nowadays in the bloodstream for the preceding three months. In most labs, the normal range is four%-v.nine %. In poorly controlled diabetes, its viii.0% or above, and in well controlled patients it's less than seven.0% (optimal is <6.5%). The benefits of measuring A1c is that is gives a more reasonable and stable view of what's happening over the course of time (iii months), and the value does not vary as much every bit finger stick blood sugar measurements. There is a direct correlation between A1c levels and average blood carbohydrate levels equally follows.

While there are no guidelines to apply A1c as a screening tool, it gives a physician a good thought that someone is diabetic if the value is elevated. Right at present, it is used as a standard tool to decide blood saccharide control in patients known to accept diabetes.

HBA1c(%)	Mean claret sugar (mg/dl)
6	135
7	170
viii	205
9	240
ten	275
11	310
12	345

The American Diabetes Association currently recommends an A1c goal of less than 7.0% with A1C goal for selected individuals of equally close to normal as possible (<6%) without meaning hypoglycemia. Other Groups such as the American Clan of Clinical Endocrinologists feel that an A1c of <half-dozen.5% should be the goal.

Of interest, studies accept shown that in that location is about a 35% decrease in relative hazard for microvascular affliction for every 1% reduction in A1c. The closer to normal the A1c, the lower the absolute risk for microvascular complications.

It should be mentioned hither that there are a number of conditions in which an A1c value may not be accurate. For example, with significant anemia, the scarlet claret prison cell count is depression, and thus the A1c is altered. This may also be the case in sickle cell illness and other hemoglobinopathies.

SLIDESHOW

Diabetes: What Raises and Lowers Your Blood Sugar Level? Encounter Slideshow

References

American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Basics.
<http://world wide web.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics>

CDC.gov. Diabetes Public Health Resources.
<http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes>

CDC.gov. "2014 National Diabetes Statistics Report. 2012.
<http://world wide web.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/statistics/2014statisticsreport.html>

Khardori, R., Doctor. "Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus." Medscape. Oct 08, 2015.
<http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/117853-overview>

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Source: https://www.medicinenet.com/what_is_the_normal_range_for_blood_sugar/ask.htm

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