When Should You Have A Blood Test For Diabetes?

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Most healthcare professionals/ doctors always insist that individuals test their blood sugar level more often. Well it depends on our own inclination mainly on how often do we need to take a blood test? Most of us wouldn't want to do a blood test; we wouldn’t do it unless we are told to do so.

So why do we need to do a blood test? It is definitely possible for some of us to have diabetes and so it’s important to be diagnosed early than later. It is absolutely necessary to get into a preventive mode as soon as possible to avoid any kind of complications.

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Blood sugar testing does provide useful information on diabetes management. If you have not been diagnosed with diabetes but do deem there might be something wrong with your blood sugar level then all you need to do is ask your doctor to run a blood test after you have eaten a meal that contains about sixty grams of carbohydrates.

Doing a test will help the individual to be aware of how diet and exercise can influence the blood sugar levels and even monitor the effect of diabetes drugs on blood sugar levels. Testing even aids in discovering whether the blood sugar is high or low; and down the road it absolutely pays to know.

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Your doctor would give you a suggestion on how often you must take a blood test to check your diabetes/blood sugar levels? However the regularity of your test only depends on the type of diabetes that you have. So when should you get the blood test done to check diabetes? Well, that only depends on following factors.

Medication
There is a chance of some oral medications causing low blood sugar or hypoglycemia and so it is imperative for the person to test more often. So how often you take a blood test to check diabetes?

People who take insulin have to test more than a few times in a day. It is also recommended for individuals who take meglitinides. Keeping a logbook is an excellent way to keep track of your testing results.

Type 1 Diabetes
If a person is recently diagnosed of having a trouble with blood sugar level it would be healthier for a person to monitor more frequently. If a person who has type 1 diabetes they need to monitor the level atleast four times a day.

High Blood Sugar Level
Individuals, who have high blood sugar levels when it is being identified, will have to test more often. If a person’s sugar level is somewhere close to 500s it is essential for them to test more often than someone whose sugar level is around 180.

Before Meals
If your doctor has recommended blood sugar testing 8 times a day means you have type 1 diabetes. So it is important that you must often take a blood test to check for diabetes. The individual has to test before meals and snacks and it has to be before and after exercise.

It also includes before bed and at sometimes during the night. And when the person is ill or beginning a new drug then he or she has to do blood sugar test.

Not Meeting The Treatment Target
If you are a patient who isn’t meeting the treatment objective, how often should the person need to take a blood test to check diabetes? It depends upon how much sugar is stuck to the person’s red blood cells. The individual has to get haemoglobin A1tests four times in a year.

If your haemoglobin A1C test outcome is somewhere less than 7% then there is the option to test your blood sugar less consistently (in case you’re not on insulin). Some of the doctors advise the patients to test twice a day at different times like before and after breakfast, during lunch or dinner.

Sometimes it could even be at bedtime. Even two tests in a day over a month can precisely typify the glucose profile of a patient.

Non-insulin Medications
If you are managing type 2 diabetes with non insulin drugs then it isn’t necessary to test your blood daily. Checking the blood sugar levels also helps the patients to take care of themselves. Working out daily allows the blood sugar levels to vary so make sure to test them when you are active.

Moreover if you are on a flexible insulin plan (insulin pump or rapid acting insulins) you are required to check before you consume so as to verify the dose of rapid insulin that is necessary.

So when do you need to get the blood test done to check diabetes? If you are taking insulin to control type 2 diabetes your doctor would suggest you to take blood sugar testing two or more times in a day.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.