Introduction<\/b><\/p>\n
If you are living with type 1 diabetes, checking your blood glucose level (BGL) is important.<\/span><\/p>\n For people living with type 2 diabetes, only some will need to monitor their levels, for example if they are changing or adjusting their diabetes medication or insulin. <\/span> In Australia, BGLs are measured in millimoles of glucose per litre of blood (mmol\/L). <\/span>Each person will have their own target level<\/b>. This will be established by your health care team in consultation with you. It will take into account your age, how long you’ve lived with diabetes, the diabetes medication that you take and any other relevant health conditions you may have. Your team may include a combination of your doctor, Nurse Practitioner or your Credentialed Diabetes Educator (CDE). The team can also consist of a podiatrist, optometrist, dentist and a dietitian. Endocrinologists could be part of the team, especially if a person is living with type 1 diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n FAQs about blood glucose levels<\/b> First thing in the morning.<\/span><\/p>\n What are the symptoms of low blood glucose levels?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Symptoms include:<\/span><\/p>\n If you are using insulin and some glucose-lowering diabetes medications, you may be at risk of low blood glucose levels (known as hypos or hypoglycaemia). Having levels below the healthy range can be dangerous for your health if it is not treated.<\/span><\/p>\n Hyperglycaemia is a condition where a person has too much glucose in their blood. High blood glucose can occur when the body has too little insulin or when the body is unable to use insulin effectively.<\/span> Many things can cause high blood glucose (hyperglycaemia). If you don\u2019t have diabetes, it can be caused by family history and genetics, illness or emotional stress.<\/span><\/p>\n If you have diabetes, causes of high blood glucose could include:<\/span><\/p>\n When should I see my doctor?<\/b><\/p>\n It is important to set up a sick day management plan when you are diagnosed with diabetes. The plan is a step-by-step personalised plan that helps people with diabetes manage their levels when they are sick. Illnesses such as the flu, colds or other common infections can affect levels, making it more difficult to manage diabetes.\u00a0 It is important to be prepared and have a sick day action plan and management kit ready to use at the earliest sign of illness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA) recommends working with a <\/span>Credentialed Diabetes Educator<\/span> to prepare a Sick Day Kit and keep it up to date. The kit should always include a personal Sick Day Action Plan.<\/span><\/p>\n It is important to manage sick days because being unwell can cause the body to release stress hormones that increase the amount of glucose in the bloodstream and make it difficult for insulin to do its job. This can cause levels to rise.<\/span><\/p>\n If you have diabetes and are experiencing any of the problems below, call 000 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department:<\/span><\/p>\n You should make an appointment to see your doctor if:<\/span><\/p>\n If you often have high levels, this can lead to diabetes complications. You can ask your doctor to review your diabetes management plan.<\/span><\/p>\n Treatment options for hyperglycaemia<\/b><\/p>\n If you have diabetes, your diabetes management plan should contain advice on what to do when your blood glucose is too high.<\/span><\/p>\n You may need to:<\/span><\/p>\n Hyperglycaemia prevention tips<\/b><\/p>\n The following will help keep your blood glucose levels in your target range:<\/span><\/p>\n Complications of hyperglycaemia<\/b><\/p>\n If you have type 1 diabetes, untreated hyperglycaemia can cause harmful acids called ketones to build up in your blood and urine, triggering a serious condition called ketoacidosis.<\/span> Symptoms include:<\/span><\/p>\n If you have type 2 diabetes and very high blood glucose, you can develop a condition called hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (HHS). The main symptoms of this are:<\/span><\/p>\n HHS is a medical emergency.<\/span><\/p>\n Other long-term complications of high blood glucose can be serious. Some examples are:<\/span><\/p>\n Conclusion<\/b><\/p>\n For all people with type 1 diabetes and for some people with type 2 diabetes, monitoring blood glucose levels is very important.<\/span><\/p>\n Regular testing with the Australian Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment Tool (AUSDRISK) and pathology checks with GPs will help people understand their risk of type 2 diabetes.\u00a0 Research shows <\/span>that type 2 diabetes can be prevented<\/span><\/a> in up to 58% of cases of pre-diabetes. It\u2019s important to act quickly\u2014the sooner you start, the sooner your risk level will decrease.<\/span><\/p>\n The <\/span>Life!<\/em><\/span><\/i> program can help you take action.<\/span><\/p>\n Life!<\/em><\/span><\/i> is a free healthy lifestyle program that helps you improve your eating habits, increase your physical activity and manage stress. You can choose from a group course or our telephone health coaching service.<\/span> Life!<\/em><\/span><\/i> is run by experienced health professionals, including dietitians and exercise physiologists, who guide and support you to make realistic healthy lifestyle changes that suit your needs. The program includes 7 sessions delivered over a 12-month period.<\/span> Since 2007, over 75,000 Victorians have learnt more about living a healthy life with the <\/span>Life!<\/em><\/span><\/i> program. It is the largest prevention program of its kind in Australia.<\/span> You can take a quick online health test and check your eligibility for the program\u00a0<\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sources<\/b><\/p>\n Blood glucose monitoring – Diabetes Australia<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Blood glucose target range – Diabetes Australia<\/span> Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) – healthdirect<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Blood glucose control (blood sugar levels) – HealthEngine Blog<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Blood sugar chart: Target levels, management, risks, and more – Medical News Today<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Manage Blood Sugar – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
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\n<\/span>Monitoring your BGLs helps you see how different factors like food, medicine and activity affect them. Levels can go up and down, for a number of reasons: what we eat, how active we are, any medications we take, and even stress can all affect them. You can use this information to make decisions with your healthcare team to keep your levels within your target range.<\/span><\/p>\n
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\n<\/b>When is the best time to take a fasting measure of blood glucose?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n
\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nWhat is hyperglycaemia?<\/b><\/h3>\n
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\n<\/span>The common causes of hyperglycaemia<\/b><\/p>\n\n
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\n<\/span><\/a>Hyperglycaemia and sick day management fact sheet – Baker Institute<\/span><\/a>Hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar) – healthdirect<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n