Why is it important to monitor blood glucose levels?

If you have diabetes, it’s important to monitor your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels to help keep your blood glucose levels within a target range. This is important to reduce your chances of having diabetes complications.

You can help keep your blood glucose levels within your target range by balancing food, exercise and your diabetes medicines.

Your doctor may advise that you have regular HbA1c blood testing. HbA1c stands for glycosylated haemoglobin. This blood test can help your doctor see how well your blood glucose has been managed over the last 12 weeks.

If you have type 1 diabetes, your doctor or diabetes educator will also advise you on self-monitoring your blood glucose levels.

If you have type 2 diabetes, the need for self-monitoring may depend on:

• if you are using insulin
• what medicines you are taking
• how well controlled your blood glucose levels are
• what your risk of hypoglycaemia is
• if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or you have recently had a baby
• What equipment is available to self-monitor blood sugar levels?

You can check your blood glucose levels using the following equipment.

Blood glucose meter

A blood glucose meter can be used to measure the level of glucose from a droplet of your blood.

You use a finger-pricking device to draw a drop of blood from your finger. You then put the droplet on a blood glucose monitoring strip and into the meter, to see how much glucose is in your blood.

Continuous glucose monitoring device (CGM)

For CGM, a sensor is placed just under your skin, usually on your tummy or the back of your arm. This sensor measures your glucose levels continuously, 24 hours a day. This means that you do not need to prick your finger.

CGM is useful for people who need close monitoring of their blood glucose levels.

It usually connects to a reader or mobile phone application, which stores your glucose levels 24 hours a day.

How do I use glucose monitoring equipment properly?

There are some things to keep in mind to avoid any problems with your diabetes equipment.

Blood glucose meters

Blood glucose meters can stop working properly if:

• the meter gets too hot or cold
• the meter gets wet, damaged or dropped
• the batteries need replacing or recharging
• the testing strips are out-of-date
• you are using the wrong strip for the meter
• there isn't enough blood on the strip, or the strip has been inserted the wrong way
• there was dirt or food on your hands before you did the test

There are things you can do to avoid problems with your blood glucose meter:

• Read the manufacturer’s instructions on caring for and using the device correctly.
• Before testing, wash your hands with soap, then rinse and dry them — dirty hands can cause an inaccurate reading.
• Always check you have the right strip for the meter and that is has been inserted correctly.
• Use your device when you visit your doctor to see if the readings match the readings taken by your doctor.

Continuous glucose monitoring

If you have CGM, the sensor must be replaced every 7 to 14 days, depending on the device you use. The new sensor must be placed in a different part of your body.

You will still sometimes need to check your blood sugar level using a finger prick blood test. It’s recommended you check your blood glucose level readings if your blood glucose levels are low or very high. You can check with your diabetes educator about times when you may need to do a finger prick blood test.

Some activities, such as swimming or exercising, can make it difficult to keep the sensor attached. If you are having difficulties, ask your diabetes educator for advice.

Tips for using glucose monitoring correctly can be found at Diabetes Australia.

Many blood glucose monitoring products are subsidised by the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS), and are available from pharmacies.

What do I do if I have a problem with my diabetes equipment?

You should check the manufacturer’s user manual or contact the customer care department if:

• you have trouble using your diabetes equipment
• you are worried that your diabetes equipment is not giving correct readings
• your diabetes equipment needs a new battery
• your diabetes equipment breaks
• your diabetes equipment becomes faulty

Your doctor, diabetes educator or pharmacist will also be able to help you with these problems.

If your diabetes equipment needs a new battery, they can usually be bought from any shop that sells a range of batteries. You can check the instruction manual for the type of battery needed and how to replace it.

You may run out of blood glucose test strips. If so, subsidised testing strips are available from pharmacies.

Resources and support

Diabetes Australia has information and support for people with diabetes, including information on blood glucose monitoring. You can also:

• call Diabetes Australia on 1800 177 055
• find multicultural resources
• get diabetes resources for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people

Information about diabetes is also available from the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS). There are also resources available in languages other than English.

Talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of getting a medical implant, like a CGM sensor. If you are unsure of what questions to ask, you can read the Therapeutic Goods Administration's guide. This guide is available in languages other than English.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.