3. Learning Points
• Know why it is important to check
glucoses
• Be able to describe a range for normal
glucoses before food
• Be able to describe what A1c test
measures and what the goal is for A1c
• Know when you need to test your glucose
more often
4. Monitoring Your Diabetes:
Target Blood Glucose Levels
Without
Diabetes
With Diabetes
(normal)
With Diabetes
(target)
Before meals
70-115
mg/dL
< 110
mg/dL
80-130
mg/dL
Before bedtime
70-120
mg/dL
< 120
mg/dL
100-150
mg/dL
Hemoglobin A1c
< 6%
< 7%
< 7%
5. Not Good
Know Your Number
13
12
11
8
7
Good Control 6
5
A1c
360
300
270
210
180
150
Blood Sugar
9
120
90
14
330
10 240
Poor
Control
Pretty
Good
Monitoring Your
Diabetes: What
does an A1c mean
An A1c measures how much
sugar has been sticking to red
blood cells over a 3 month period
of time.
An A1c is a measure of long-term
diabetes control.
Goal is A1c <7
6. Monitoring Your Diabetes:
What is an A1c
The higher your blood sugar, the more sugar that sticks to your red
cells and the higher your A1c
Normal Blood Glucose
Red
blood
cell
Red blood cell
Above-Normal Blood Glucose
Glucose
particles
7. Monitoring Your Diabetes:
Testing your A1c
• Your doctor will check your A1cevery 3
to 6 months
• Your doctor may check your A1c more often
if:
– You have blood sugars above goal
– Your last A1c was high
– You have had symptoms of low blood sugar
8. Monitoring Your Diabetes:
Controlled blood sugars and A1c
• Blood sugars and an A1c at or below goal
(7% or less) can protect your:
– Heart, brain, blood vessels
– Eyes
– Kidneys
– Nerves
– Feet
10. Testing Sugars- How often?
• Depends what kinds of medicine you take:
– Most patients taking pills test once a day
– Patients taking insulin may need to test between 1
and 4 times a day
• Determined by the type of insulin and its action
• Test more often if:
– You have had low blood sugars (BG<70)
– Sugars have been unusually high (over 200)
– You are sick
– You are starting a new exercise program
15. Other Points to Remember
• Make sure you know how to correctly use
your meter
• Don’t share meters
• Always bring meter to doctor’s visits
16. What Affects
Your Blood
Sugar?
What is
hypoglycemia &
hyperglycemia?
17. Learning Points
• Know signs of high blood sugar
(hyperglycemia)
• Know the signs of low blood sugar
(hypoglycemia)
• Know what to do when sugars are too high
or too low
18. Your Blood Sugar:
Hyperglycemia or High Blood Sugar
• Symptoms
– Extreme thirst
– Frequent urination
– Dry skin
– Hunger
– Blurred vision
– Drowsiness
– Decreased healing
19. Your Blood Sugar:
Hyperglycemia or High Blood Sugar
• Causes
– Too much food
– Too little insulin or diabetes medicine
– Illness
– Stress
• Onset
– Gradual
– If extremely high or you have type 1 diabetes it
may progress to diabetic coma
– Damage to your eyes, kidneys, and nerves
happens over time
20. Your Blood Sugar:
Hyperglycemia or High Blood Sugar
• What can you do when you have
symptoms?
– Test blood glucose more often
– Don’t wait, call your doctor if your blood
sugar is over 200mg/dL for several tests or
for 2 days
21. Your Blood Sugar:
Symptoms of Hypoglycemia
• Shaking
• Fast
heartbeat
• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Anxiety
• Hunger
• Impaired vision
• Weakness/fatigue
• Headache
• Irritability
22. Your Blood Sugar:
Hypoglycemia or Low Blood Sugar
• Causes
– Too little food
– Too much insulin or diabetes medicine
– Extra activity or exercise
• Onset
– Sudden
• May progress to unconsciousness,
confusion, or insulin shock
23. Your Blood Sugar:
Treatment of Hypoglycemia
4 Steps to treating your blood sugar:
1. Quick sugar, 10 to 15 grams carbohydrate
2. Recheck blood glucose in 15 to 20 minutes and
repeat treatment if necessary
3. If your glucose is normal, eat a protein meal or snack
4. If you have symptoms, but BG is over 70, have snack
*Treat all sugars under 70 mg/dl (with or without symptoms)
*If you have symptoms, but no meter, treat and try to be
prepared and have meter with you the next time.
24. Hypoglycemia or Low Sugar:
Step 1- 10 to 15 Grams of Carbs
Pick One of these
2 to 3
Glucose
Tablets
5 to 8 Life
Savers®
1/4 to 1/3 cup
raisins
4 oz. orange juice
8 oz. milk
3 to 5 peppermint candies
½ can of
regular soda
