What are the Best Tips for Glucose Monitoring?

Glucose monitoring can be quite tedious and painful at times. One great tip for people who need to regularly monitor their blood sugar levels is to take advantage of the latest blood sugar monitoring devices. Regular monitoring is very important, especially when first diagnosed, in order to understand how the body's glucose levels normally change. Increasing blood circulation to the fingers, pricking the sides of fingertips, and rotating the fingers that are pricked are great ways to reduce pain involved with monitoring glucose levels.

The first tip for glucose monitoring is to take advantage of technological advances in this area. Monitoring the blood glucose level used to require frequent doctor visits and lab tests, but today portable electronic devices are available that allow people to monitor their glucose levels anywhere, anytime. In combination with a finger prick and test strips, these home monitors provide everything a person needs to find what her glucose levels are at any given moment. Other advances in technology have eliminated the need for constant finger pricking, which allows continuous monitoring using a small catheter inserted under the skin. The catheter monitors the glucose in the interstitial fluid and sounds an alarm when the levels become too low or high.

Another tip for glucose monitoring, particularly for people recently diagnosed with diabetes or another disorder that affects blood sugar levels, is to frequently monitor blood sugar. The best times to test are on an empty stomach, such as before meals and when first waking up in the morning. Many people experience frequent finger pricking as unpleasant, but rest assured that the more it is done in the beginning, the better understanding a person will have of his or her natural blood sugar levels rising and falling throughout the day. Advances in technology are working on ways to make finger pricking obsolete, but for the time being it is a good investment that will hopefully bring enough understanding of the body's glucose levels that the frequency of testing needed is reduced.

Trying out a few different testers is another good idea for glucose monitoring. Find a device that is comfortable and causes the least amount of pain. Washing hands in warm water and shaking the arms can increase blood circulation to the fingers, which can making finger pricking easier. Prick the sides of the fingertips, where there are fewer nerve endings, to minimize pain. Another great tip is to rotate the fingers, giving each finger more time to heal between pricks.

Adjusting diet and exercise habits is another great tip for glucose monitoring. Eating frequent small meals throughout the day will reduce the spikes in blood sugar levels that can occur when large amounts of food are consumed at once. A person should consult his or her physician for specifics about diet and exercises that are best for his or her specific condition.