How to Check Blood Sugar at Home: Natural Glucose Monitoring

Checking your blood sugar at home, especially if you must do fingersticks with a blood glucose meter or glucometer, can be uncomfortable and frustrating. The lancet might hurt, it can be inconvenient, and it could feel anxiety-producing if you're afraid of the number you will see. However, there's no better alternative to medical devices that check your blood sugar, and natural glucose monitoring remedies may need to be more accurate and reliable.

Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can also lead to health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and nerve damage. This article will explore the importance of monitoring your glucose levels, the feasibility of natural blood sugar testing at home, and common methods for accurate glucose monitoring.

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Monitoring Your Glucose Levels: Why Is It Important?

Monitoring your blood sugar is crucial for managing and preventing diabetes. Regular blood glucose checks can help you understand how lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and medications affect your blood sugar. Knowing your blood sugar in real-time allows for timely adjustments to prevent blood sugar highs and lows, which can lead to negative complications associated with hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). 

Maintaining stable blood sugar levels is essential for your overall health, regardless of diabetes status. Consistently high levels can cause long-term damage to organs, nerves, and blood vessels, leading to serious conditions such as heart disease, kidney failure, and vision problems. By keeping track of your glucose levels, you can make more informed decisions to maintain your health and prevent potential health complications.

Natural Blood Sugar Testing at Home: Is It Possible?

While checking blood sugar naturally at home may seem appealing, it could be more accurate. Natural methods, such as monitoring physical symptoms or using home remedies, need more precision and reliability of medical devices. They cannot provide glucose readings for effective prediabetes or diabetes management. A fingerstick or blood draw is the only way to measure blood sugar accurately. 

If you have symptoms of diabetes, such as frequent urination, excessive thirst, and unexplained weight loss, it's crucial to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and monitoring. A healthcare professional can conduct blood tests and provide a comprehensive plan for managing your blood sugar levels safely and effectively.

Common Ways for Glucose Monitoring

While blood sugar testing is most accurate from a fingerstick or blood sample, several other reliable methods exist for monitoring glucose levels. Here are the most common glucose monitoring options:

• Blood Tests: This way is accurate and reliable, but requires a visit to a healthcare provider and is not easily accessible. This is the best option for folks who do not have diabetes currently but may want a checkup every 6 to 12 months to gauge their blood sugar status. Normally, the tests only need a few drops of blood to determine your blood sugar.
• Urine Tests: This method is easy to use but needs to be more accurate as it measures glucose levels over time rather than instant readings.
• Test Strips: This is the most accurate method for home use, but it involves frequent fingertip pricks and may have user error risks if you’re not properly trained.
• Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs): A CGM provides real-time glucose readings and trends and reduces the need for finger pricks. However, they can be costly and may require a professional setup. CGMs can have a 15% standard deviation from blood glucose levels and typically “lag” behind an accurate fingerstick reading.

<div class="pro-tip"><strong>Learn More: </strong><a href=non-diabetic-track-their-glucose>Why Would a Non-Diabetic Want to Track Their Glucose?</a>.</div>

When and How Often Should You Check Your Blood Sugar Levels?

Understanding what times and how often to check your blood sugar levels is crucial for diabetes treatment or improving blood sugar-related conditions. Regular blood sugar monitoring helps you track your glucose trends and make informed diet, exercise, and medication decisions.

People living with diabetes should check their blood sugar based on their treatment plan or doctor’s recommendation. Generally, if you are using insulin, you likely need to test more frequently, such as before and/or after meals and before bedtime. This might mean testing multiple times per day or using a CGM for consistent blood glucose monitoring in real-time.

For those managing blood sugar levels or diabetes with oral medications or lifestyle changes, your blood sugar checking might be less frequent. However, it should still be consistent, such as once or twice a day or as their healthcare provider recommends. It's essential to follow your doctor's advice on the testing frequency, as it can vary depending on factors like diabetes type, treatment plan, and how well your blood sugar is controlled.

Normal Blood Sugar Levels: A Recap

Normal blood sugar levels are a key indicator of overall health, especially for individuals with diabetes. Keeping blood sugar within the recommended target range can help prevent long-term complications and improve quality of life. Plus, regular blood glucose tests can help you predict your hemoglobin A1c or HbA1c the next time you have bloodwork done with your doctor. 

For most people who do not have diabetes, a normal fasting blood sugar level is between 70 and 99 mg/dL, and a normal level two hours after eating is less than 140 mg/dL. 

For those with diabetes, targets can vary based on your healthcare provider’s recommendation. Still, the American Diabetes Association recommends fasting blood sugar levels between 80 and 130 mg/dL and less than 180 mg/dL two hours after meals. It's crucial to work with your healthcare team to determine your target ranges and monitor your levels regularly to stay within those targets.

Learn More About How to Improve Blood Sugar Health With Signos’ Expert Advice

Choosing the right medication and treatment plan can improve your health, manage diabetes, and control your weight. The right medication may regulate blood sugar levels, prevent complications, and enhance overall health and quality of life. 

Signos’ experts offer valuable advice tailored to your unique health needs, helping you navigate the complexities of daily diabetes care. Their insights can assist you in selecting effective medications, adopting healthier lifestyle choices, and achieving better blood sugar control. With expert guidance from Signos, you can manage your diabetes more effectively and improve your overall health.

Using a CGM with Signos can help improve your blood sugar and contribute to weight loss. Learn more about glucose levels on Signos’ blog and if Signos is a good fit for you by taking a quick quiz.

<div class="pro-tip"><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href=traveling-with-insulin>Traveling With Insulin: What You’ll Need and Safety Tips</a>.</div>

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