If I am required to “self-monitor” which blood
glucose meter should I use?
Your doctor or nurse will help you to understand
blood glucose monitoring and provide you with a
suitable meter. As test strips are very expensive,
only a small number of meters are recommended
for use in Calderdale. This helps to manage NHS
costs more effectively.
How do I get my test strips?
You should get these on prescription. The amount
you will be prescribed will be dependent on how
often you need to test. As an example, if you test
twice a day, you should be prescribed 1- 2 boxes
per month. If you have a surplus amount than you
should miss ordering for a month as these strips
are expensive and have a limited expiry date.
What else can I do to control my blood
glucose level?
Controlling blood glucose is a balance between
food, exercise and medication:
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Eat a healthy diet
Take regular exercise.
Take/use your diabetes medication as
prescribed.
Understand how your medication affects your
blood glucose.
special circumstances when you will need to
monitor your blood glucose. Your doctor or nurse
will advise you if and when self-monitoring is required.
If you require any further advice or information
regarding your diabetes or blood glucose testing,
please ask your local surgery or pharmacy.
It is important to keep your blood glucose levels
under control. Check with your doctor or nurse if
you don’t know how to arrange for your regular
blood test or how often to have one done.
Remember:
Test only if you have been advised to do so by
your healthcare professional.
Your doctor or nurse will prescribe the appropriate
quantity of test strips suitable for you to manage
your diabetes.
Self-Monitoring of
Blood Glucose In
Diabetes
Testing more frequently than advised will give you
more results, but this will not necessarily mean your
diabetes is better controlled.
Only order the amount of blood glucose test strips
you need.
Information for patients with
Diabetes about blood glucose
(sugar) monitoring
Summary
Good control of blood glucose is important for all
patients with diabetes to reduce complications. A
balanced diet and exercise plays a very
important part in maintaining or improving your
health. Contact your surgery for further
information.
If you do not use insulin, routine testing of your
blood glucose (self-monitoring) is not recommended for many patients. However, there are some
Useful Organisations
Diabetes UK— www.diabetes.org.uk
NHS Calderdale Clinical Commissioning Group,
5th Floor, F Mill,
Dean Clough, Halifax, HX3 5AX
Phone: 01422 281300
E-mail: [email protected]
Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose in Adults
Monitoring your diabetes is crucial to preventing
some of the possible complications associated with
diabetes. This involves knowing your blood
glucose, blood pressure and blood cholesterol
levels, as well as the condition of your feet and
getting your eyes and kidneys screened to make
sure they are healthy.
This leaflet is about monitoring your blood glucose
yourself.
There are two aspects to monitoring your blood
glucose – the monitoring you do yourself at home,
(self-monitoring), and the monitoring that your
doctor or nurse will do for you.
Why Do I Need to Monitor my Blood Glucose?
Blood glucose control is very important for people
with diabetes. You can reduce your risk of health
problems caused by diabetes if you keep your
blood glucose levels as near to normal as
possible (i.e. in the range of a person who does not
have diabetes). Your doctor or nurse will let you
know what your targets are.
How is my Blood Glucose Monitored?
At least once a year, your doctor or nurse should
check your long-term diabetes control by taking a
blood sample. The most common test is the HbA1c
test which indicates your blood glucose levels for
the previous 2 to 3 months.
Some people with diabetes, (but not all), will
self-monitor their blood glucose levels.
Self-monitoring gives an accurate picture of your
blood glucose level at the time of the test. It involves pricking the side of your finger (as opposed
to the pad) with a finger-pricking device and putting
a drop of blood on a testing strip. This blood glucose
measurement tells you what is happening NOW.
The HbA1c test tells you how you have been, on
average, over the last 3 months.
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If you have gestational diabetes (diabetes
during pregnancy)
To meet driving requirements – see below
Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose
Driving
Your doctor or nurse will advise you if you are
required to self-monitor and, if so, how often. This will
be according to your individual circumstances.
If you are on insulin you need to tell the DVLA
about your diabetes. You need to plan in advance if
you are driving – you must check blood glucose
before the first journey and every 2 hours whilst
driving.
It is not necessary for everyone with diabetes to selfmonitor their blood glucose on a regular basis. If you
have Type 2 diabetes and use diet control alone, or
are well controlled on some oral tablets, you may not
need to self-monitor.
For other patients self-monitoring of blood glucose is
appropriate and more frequent monitoring may be
required. These include:
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If you have Type 1 diabetes.
If you are treated with insulin, or if
insulin treatment is being considered.
If you are treated with some oral medicines
(your doctor or nurse will advise you).
When you first start treatment or change
treatment or dose.
To let you know how your blood glucose
levels are affected by a change in medication,
what you eat and/or how active you are.
If you have symptoms of low blood glucose.
If your diabetes is poorly controlled.
During periods of illness.
If you are prescribed steroid tablets or steroid
injections.
Preparing for and during pregnancy
It is also appropriate to monitor blood glucose if
driving and taking some oral medications. The
DVLA have guidance on their website,
www.gov.uk/diabetes-driving.
Note – all group 2 drivers (buses or lorries)
must inform the DVLA if they are receiving
treatment for diabetes. Please refer to DVLA
guidance for requirements around blood
glucose testing.