Treatment Methods For Diabetes Mellitus

Monitor Blood Glucose Consistently

It is essential for patients to monitor blood glucose consistently to achieve optimal control over the numbers. This is done at home using a small lancet and a blood glucose meter. A drop of blood is taken from the finger or another testing site such as the forearm and placed on a test strip, which is then inserted into the meter to produce a reading. Some newer testing devices can monitor glucose continually with fewer finger sticks than older devices. Type 1 patients may need to test their blood sugar as often as ten times per day. Daily testing is recommended for type 2 patients, especially those who are using insulin and multiple medications, and some may even need to test two or three times a day if they are taking insulin. For patients not taking insulin, blood glucose monitoring can be done on a less frequent basis. The doctor will recommend an appropriate at-home monitoring schedule based on the needs of the individual patient.