Medications
Diabetes Support Group Meeting Highlights
June 16, 2009
On Tuesday, June 16, Carlene spoke to the diabetes support group on home blood sugar testing and diabetes medications. In our high tech world, glucometers are now easier to use, require smaller drop of blood and offer results in a quicker time frame. Many different companies make meters but educators agree that most are accurate. Some are more sophisticated than others but we try to choose the right meter for each individual and one that will be the least costly as covered by their insurance. You should be shown how to use the device before you take it home.
She asks that you start with clean hands before actually making the poke. If you happened to eat an orange or some watermelon before testing, any food residual could cause an inaccurate test result. The idea is to rotate sites and most meters today allow you to obtain blood sample from other sites rather than the sides of your fingers. For those who have a difficult time obtaining adequate amount of blood for testing, she provided some additional tips.
The best way to check accuracy of a meter is to test your blood sugar immediately before or after blood test is done at the clinic. If people try to compare meters, the results will never be the same so sometimes that causes more confusion.
The whole idea of testing at home is for you to see if your sugars are well controlled other than just when you come to the clinic every 3-6 months. Everybody should know the target as designated by your provider. If the sugars are above or below, she encourages that you learn from the testing and put your knowledge to work. We look for trends and may suggest changes in dietary intake or physical activity that can improve the sugars. You are the one that is dealing with diabetes on a day to day basis. Medication can be added or reduced to keep your blood sugars at goal which may prevent or delay possible complications of diabetes.
Medication used to treat diabetes is often classified as to how it works to lower the blood sugars. First treatment suggested is life style changes and if that alone is not effective, medications are used for control. We treat the individual when it comes to deciding on a treatment plan and yes, sometimes it is trial and error because no two people are alike. There are both oral medications and injectables used. She repeated with emphasis that if insulin is required, it is not a failure of the person with diabetes but rather a failure of your pancreas. Feel free to discuss your medications with your provider, a diabetes educator or pharmacist if you have further questions.
The next meeting will be held Tuesday, July 21 at 6PM at Prairie Clinic. Please call if you have questions: Rita 608-644-2458 at Prairie Clinic.
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