Where is blood glucose monitored in the body

For many women, their bodies respond by simply releasing more insulin during pregnancy. As a result, they suffer from spikes in blood glucose during pregnancy or gestational diabetes.

High Blood Glucose hyperglycemia : When you eat, your blood glucose levels spike until they can be normalized with insulin. When someone has diabetes, they run the risk of having extended periods of high blood glucose, or hyperglycemia, which can ultimately do damage to the body.

The dangers of high blood glucose involve damage to the blood vessels, increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. High blood glucose can also lead to kidney disease, nerve damage, and eye disease. The symptoms of high glucose include:. The outcome of hypoglycemia can be fatal and include loss of consciousness, seizure, or coma. Early symptoms of hypoglycemia are:.

If you are experiencing signs of hypoglycemia, check your blood sugar it is a medical emergency. Call immediately and eat or drink easily digestible carbohydrates such as soda, a spoonful of honey or sugar, or a few crackers. To avoid hyper or hypoglycemia, people living with diabetes must be vigilant about monitoring their blood glucose levels throughout the day.

Ask your healthcare provider if CGM is right for you. Several CGM devices are available. They are approved by the FDA with a prescription from a healthcare provider. It includes a sensor, transmitter, and a receiver or monitor. The sensor is a small device placed under the skin. It will measure your blood sugar several times a minute. A transmitter sends the information to a receiver. This may be a part of an insulin pump or a separate device.

Your blood sugar will still need to be checked a few times a day with a regular glucose meter to check for accuracy. The sensor under the skin needs to be replaced every 3 to 7 days. These are the most common symptoms of high blood sugar hyperglycemia.

But there may be no symptoms, and each person may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:. These are the most common symptoms of low blood sugar hypoglycemia.

But each person may experience symptoms differently. Sometimes none of these warning symptoms appear before a person loses consciousness from low blood glucose. The loss of the ability to sense low blood sugar is called hypoglycemia unawareness.

Check with your insurance company to find out if blood glucose monitoring equipment and testing supplies are covered under your plan. If not, many suppliers offer rebates or discounted prices on trade-ins. In addition, when selecting a glucose meter, the ADA reminds consumers to factor in the ongoing cost of test strips.

Insurance providers vary on how many strips and how much of the test strip cost they will cover. Search Encyclopedia. Glucose Monitoring Devices What is blood sugar glucose monitoring? How can blood sugar levels be checked?

What are noninvasive blood sugar monitors? Some of these devices use one of the following ways to measure blood sugar: Infrared light to shine through a forearm or finger Low-level electricity to draw blood up through the skin Saliva or tears To find out if a monitor is approved for use, check the FDA website's section on blood glucose monitoring devices.

If you manage type 2 diabetes with noninsulin medications or with diet and exercise alone, you may not need to test your blood sugar daily. A continuous glucose monitor CGM is a device that measures your blood sugar every few minutes using a sensor inserted under the skin. People with diabetes, particularly those with type 1 diabetes, may also choose to use CGMs. These devices measure your blood sugar every few minutes using a sensor inserted under the skin. These sensors are typically worn for a week or two before they need to be changed.

The newest type of continuous glucose monitor has an implanted sensor that can detect blood sugar levels for up to three months. A transmitter worn on the body sends blood sugar information wirelessly from the sensor to a smartphone app. Some devices show your blood sugar reading at all times on a receiver, smartphone or smartwatch, and an alarm goes off if your blood sugar is going up or down too quickly.

Others require that you check your blood sugar by running the receiver over the sensor periodically. Most of these devices still require finger-stick checks to calibrate the machine. Check your device's users guide to learn if you need to check, and if so, how often you need to do it. Readings on newer CGMs don't seem to be affected by standard doses of acetaminophen up to 1, milligrams for an adult.

If you need to take medications that may affect the accuracy of the readings, your doctor may recommend double-checking your CGM results with a standard blood sugar meter.

Check with your doctor about using a CGM if you're pregnant, on dialysis or critically ill, as these conditions may affect the blood sugar readings from a CGM. Ask your doctor what a reasonable blood sugar range is for you. Your doctor will set target blood sugar test results based on several factors, including:.

But the ADA notes that these goals often vary depending on your age and personal health and should be individualized. For example, Mayo Clinic generally recommends that healthy adults under 60 can aim for slightly lower blood sugar targets. Blood sugar testing requires the use of a blood sugar meter. The meter measures the amount of sugar in a small sample of blood, usually from your fingertip, that you place on a disposable test strip. Your doctor or diabetes educator can recommend an appropriate device for you.

He or she can also help you learn how to use your meter. Follow the instructions that come with your blood sugar meter. In general, here's how the process works:. Some meters can test blood taken from an alternate site, such as the forearm or palm.

But these readings may not be as accurate as readings from the fingertips, especially after a meal or during exercise, when blood sugar levels change more frequently. Alternate sites aren't recommended for use in calibrating CGMs. Talk with your doctor about how often you need to record your blood sugar results. The readings given by many devices can now be downloaded to a computer. If you manually log your results, record the date, time, test results, medication and dose, and diet and exercise information.

Bring your record of results with you to your doctor's appointments. Talk to your doctor about what steps to take if you get results that don't fall within the range of your target goals. Blood sugar meters need to be used and maintained properly.

Follow these tips to ensure proper usage:. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health.

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