Blood Sugar Management

For optimal blood sugar management, people with diabetes should check their blood sugars on a regular basis. Frequent and careful blood glucose monitoring is essential for people with diabetes who are on insulin, but self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) by all persons with diabetes, even the most ‘stable’ type 2 patients, is recommended for optimal glycemic control.

The introduction of blood glucose meters revolutionized diabetes care by empowering patients to manage their own disease, but sadly the technology is still widely underused. 

Without regular monitoring and therapeutic adjustments, glycemic control tends to worsen over time for type 2 diabetes patients, which is why type 2 is sometimes referred to as a progressive disease. In addition, self-monitoring of blood glucose provides data to evaluate the impact of lifestyle changes, events like exercise and meals, and other common occurrences such as illness, on glycemia. It also helps guide the adjustment of diabetic medications. Generally, close blood glucose monitoring encourages active involvement, which leads to better outcomes.

The bottom line: Self-monitoring of blood glucose is recommended for all patients with diabetes and can make a big difference in long-term payoffs of better outcomes and fewer complications.