Monitoring

Monitoring blood glucose control

An important part of successful diabetic care is achieved by patient monitoring of blood sugar levels at home. This allows the physician and patient to evaluate the success of the current treatment. The better the control, the less the risk of developing complications. In the past, the main interest was in controlling fasting blood sugar levels, but recent evidence suggests control of levels two hours after meals is also important in decreasing the risk of complications.

There are multiple types of glucose monitors available. Some of them have voice synthesizers that can be used to help visually impaired patients. Several monitors enable the blood to be drawn from areas other than the finger. A great advance in monitoring is the existence of a monitor that uses a small electric current to measure the glucose in the fluid under the skin instead of requiring a blood sample. Readings are taken every 20 minutes and an alarm sounds if the glucose falls outside of the normal range. Several other noninvasive devices are in development.

Regular blood tests to determine the concentration of hemoglobin A lc are used to determine if there has been adequate control of blood glucose levels. This test shows the average amount of glucose in the blood over the last three months. It is recommended to keep the hemoglobin A1c concentration less than seven percent. Studies have shown that this can significantly decrease the risk of developing complications from diabetes.