Blood sugar monitoring is the main tool to keep diabetes in control.
The pecan pie (with ice cream, of course!) might have been a delicious dessert choice, but how did it affect your blood sugar levels?
Diet, stress and activity levels all have an impact on blood sugar levels. So whether you struggle with low or high blood glucose, monitoring and logging your levels is vital. Download your own blood glucose log here, then get trackin’ with this blood sugar tracker!
According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), blood glucose levels should be:
- Before meals: 70 to 130 mg/dl
- Two hours after start of a meal: below 180 mg/dl
Bring a record of your levels to your next doctor’s appointment to provide a better picture of your body’s response to your diabetes care plan.
But tracking isn’t just for those with diabetes. People who may benefit from checking blood glucose, the ADA says, include those who:
- take insulin;
- are pregnant;
- have a hard time controlling blood glucose levels;
- have low blood glucose levels;
- have low blood glucose levels without the usual warning signs;
- have ketones from high blood glucose levels.
We know diabetes can be expensive. Learn more about quick and easy ways to keep diabetes costs down while being your healthiest. For more about how we care for people with diabetes, see the Vanderbilt Eskind Diabetes Center.
