Most people with diabetes test their blood sugars regularly. Some test as often as 6-8 times a day, while others may test only once or twice a week. How often one tests is determined by several factors:

 

• How diabetes is managed – Do you use a pump, several injections of insulin a day, oral agents and insulin, or diet alone.

 

• How good is the control of the blood sugar.

 

• The availability of strips.

 

• One's willingness to test.

 

 Why do you test? The purpose of testing one's glucose is to use the information to make changes to your diet, medications or exercise to maintain glucose levels as close to your target range as possible. The object is to avoid very low glucose (hypoglycemia) or very high glucose (hyperglycemia).

 

 This means you should record your readings and bring your book to every doctor visit. It also means that if you notice a change in your readings - a trend of higher or lower glucose - you should examine what you are doing. Ask yourself these basic questions:

 

• Have my eating habits changed?

 

• Am I doing less exercise?

 

• Am I coming down with something or feeling ill?

 

 Make sure your meter is clean, correctly coded and that your strips have not expired. If you know you are eating more or less, you should get back on your diet or exercise program to see if things improve. If the readings don't improve after following the proper nutritional guidelines, you should contact your physician. However, If your glucose readings are never used to make changes in your treatment plan, you are wasting your time, effort and money.