We all care about our families. If you have a family member with diabetes, you can help them manage their glucose levels. Take a moment out of your day to remind them to check their glucose level or help them record it on a log sheet. One of the best things a family can do for diabetes is to manage it at home. Monitoring blood sugar will help you understand how food, activity levels, stress, medicine and insulin impact your loved one’s blood sugar level. Each person’s blood sugar level responds differently to each risk factor. Knowing how one responds reduces the chances of eye, nerve, and kidney problems that can result from diabetes, thus leading to the successful maintenance of a healthy home.
How to Measure Blood Sugar Level:
Follow the instructions that came with the glucose meter and any tips your doctor has provided. In general, these are the steps:
- Wash your hands and dry them well before doing the test.
- Use an alcohol pad to clean the area that you’re going to prick. With many glucose meters, you get a drop of blood from your fingertip. However, with some meters, you can also use your forearm, thigh or the fleshy part of your hand. Ask your doctor what area you should use with your meter.
- Prick yourself with a sterile lancet to get a drop of blood. (If you prick your fingertip, it may be easier and less painful to prick it on one side, not on the pad.)
- Place the drop of blood on the test strip.
- Follow the instructions for inserting the test strip into the glucose meter.
- The meter will give you a number for your blood sugar level.
Keeping Track of Results:
Make it a priority to record each blood sugar reading in a log. The glucose meter should have come with one. But if you need another, there are plenty available on the internet. Follow this link and print out the log that you like best: Blood Glucose Level Logs. Here is a sample completed log sheet: Sample Log.
Show the log to your doctor when you go in for visits.
If you forget to check the blood sugar one day, help each other get back on track the next day. Monitoring diabetes can be a family effort. In time of test, family is best. ~Burmese Proverb
Gupta Medical Center Wellness Blog 
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