Talking to Your Doctor About Testing
Blood glucose results can provide valuable snapshots of your diabetes control
If you have diabetes, it’s all but certain that your doctor has said you should test your blood glucose. This is because not everyone with diabetes responds the same way to medications, food, exercise and stress. A collection of blood glucose values can become a blue print of how you respond to all of these things.
Bring along your logbook
At your next doctor’s visit, bring a logbook of your blood glucose readings. This information will provide him or her with a valuable picture of you! Regular testing and record keeping help you and your doctor:
- Evaluate your blood glucose control.
- Decide what changes you may need to make to improve your blood glucose control.
- See how the changes affect your blood glucose.
- Determine how well your treatment plan is working.
Snapshots of your blood glucose control
Your doctor often relies on the hemoglobin A1C lab value to get the “big picture” of your diabetes control. A1C is a three-month average of your control. By providing your doctor with day-to-day blood glucose readings, you are providing snap shots of your control rather than a long-term average. These snap shots allow both of you to see if your medication is working, as well as the effect of your diet, portion sizes, exercise and stress. A1C is valuable, but by itself can’t supply you with all that information.
Let blood glucose monitoring help you get a handle on diabetes control
At your next appointment, make sure to bring your logbook. Ask your doctor to explain how he or she decides on certain medicines based on your blood glucose. You might ask for a referral to a dietitian to help with your portion sizes, mealtime testing or even weight loss. And make sure to get your doctor’s okay to begin an exercise program that works best for you. Blood glucose testing can help you make educated decisions about all these factors. And having that knowledge just may reduce the stress in your life!
