Blood Glucose Monitoring
Blood glucose monitoring is recommended for all people with diabetes as it is a valuable diabetes management tool which can help to give you a sense of control and freedom. Regular testing of blood glucose levels (BGL) can reinforce your healthy lifestyle choices as well as inform you of your response to other factors.
Blood glucose levels respond to food, particularly carbohydrates but other influences like physical activity, travel, changes in routine, stress and illness will also cause BGLs to go up or down. Visits to a doctor or heath professional may be weeks or months apart so being able to understand the numbers and make decisions in between visits is valuable.
The frequency and timing of your blood glucose monitoring, and the recommended range, is individual and should be determined by your diabetes team.
Blood glucose meters
There are a wide variety of blood glucose meters available. A chart has been produced which allows you to compare the various blood glucose meters. You might want to talk to your diabetes health professional to help you find the one most suitable for you. Find your nearest diabetes centre or call the Diabetes Australia Customer Care Line on 1300 342 238.
Keeping records
Although most blood glucose meters have an electronic memory, keeping a written record of your blood glucose readings is useful in diabetes management. A well-kept record will show the range and pattern (or not) over time which helps with lifestyle advice or medication adjustment. Because people with diabetes need to take care of themselves every day, diabetes is known as a self-management condition. There are a number of health professionals who will assist and support you.
Testing technique
Self-blood glucose monitoring can be tedious and uncomfortable but it should not really hurt too much and if it does hurt a lot there may be a simple solution. The tool that pricks the finger to obtain the drop of blood is called a lancet device. The depth of the lancet and technique are important, and consulting a diabetes educator or other diabetes health professional may help. If the depth and technique is OK the pain may be due to not changing the lancet often enough. The manufacturers recommend changing the lancet every time it is used because the lancet becomes less sharp (and may hurt more) with each use. It is also important that fingers are washed and dried before pricking.
Subsidies on the NDSS
To help with the costs of blood glucose monitoring, the Australian Government established the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS). This is a program which subsidises the cost of blood glucose testing supplies and offers free needles and syringes to people who use insulin. If you are an Australian resident and have been diagnosed with diabetes you are eligible for enrolment in the NDSS. The registration form must be signed by a doctor or credentialled diabetes educator. Registration with the NDSS is free and lifelong.
DVA benefits
For people with diabetes in NSW who hold a Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) gold card or a DVA white card specifying diabetes, get all blood glucose monitoring supplies at no cost. Other DVA card holders will receive a substantial discount. To find out if you qualify contact the Diabetes Australia Customer Care Line on 1300 342 238.
Australian Diabetes Council membership benefits
It is important to remember that registration with the NDSS is different to membership of Diabetes Australia. Members of Diabetes Australia receive a 10% discount on all blood glucose meters and other products not listed on the NDSS. Membership of Diabetes Australia is available through an annual subscription with special rates for concession card holders. Find out more about Australian Diabetes Council membership.
For those with pre-diabetes
For people with pre-diabetes (impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance) blood glucose monitoring is not necessary. Some people with pre-diabetes may be advised to test however people with pre-diabetes are not eligible to register with the NDSS.
For more information about blood glucose monitoring, finding your nearest diabetes team, or other diabetes-related questions call the Diabetes Australia Customer Care Line on 1300 342 238.