QA Forum

Question & Answer

We are discussing Living with Diabetes
With Angela Blair, Kristen Hazelwood and the Department of Health and Ageing

Question:
I have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, should I test my blood glucose level at home using a blood glucose meter?

Answer:
Angela - Pre-diabetes is diagnosed when your blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be considered diabetes. Often by taking action when you are diagnosed with pre-diabetes, you can prevent development of diabetes. Healthy eating and exercise are the best treatment for pre-diabetes. Thirty minutes of moderate physical activity daily and a small reduction in body weight can reduce your risk of developing diabetes by more than 50 percent.

Self blood glucose monitoring (SBGM) reflects how glucose levels respond to lifestyle changes and therefore is a management tool recommended for individuals diagnosed with diabetes.

If you have pre diabetes your blood glucose levels should be within normal range when you eat healthy, increase your regular physical activity and lose weight if you are overweight. Visiting your general practitioner every six to twelve months to have your fasting blood glucose level, blood fats or lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL – cholesterol and LDL -cholesterol) and blood pressure should be a regular part of the management of your pre diabetes. Remember people with pre diabetes are more likely to get type 2 diabetes and are at risk of heart disease. Treatment of pre diabetes can reduce or even reduce these risks.

Of course if you really wanted to self monitor your blood glucose you need to think about expense, technique and an understanding of the results you are obtaining with your monitor.

Expense: People diagnosed with diabetes are covered by the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS). This is a scheme where the cost of diabetes care supplies such as strips and needles is greatly subsidised by the Federal Government. The scheme is managed by Diabetes Australia.

Pre diabetes is not covered by the NDSS.

Blood glucose meters can be purchased from pharmacies or Diabetes Australia-NSW, but if you are not covered by NDSS you need to check the cost of testing supplies that you will need for that blood glucose meter. Over time, the price of test strips or sensors, control solutions, and other supplies will prove much more costly than the blood glucose meter itself.

Technique: Technique is important in getting accurate results. Unless you can get advice from a diabetes educator or another health professional, you should work through the procedures for several different models, to find the monitor that's easy and comfortable for you to use. You will also need to be aware of what times to take your blood glucose in relation to your meals and how often you need to test.

Understanding: What is the significance of your blood glucose results? If they are elevated it could be for a variety of reasons -your diet, your inactivity, problems with your monitor or technique or even your everyday stress levels – which can be increased by worrying about doing your own blood glucose levels!

My advice: Before considering monitoring your blood glucose levels at home, talk to your doctor. It may be of better for you to use resources that will help you achieve a healthy lifestyle – a dietitian, diabetes educator, exercise physiologist, the local gym or swimming pool … even a good pair of walking shoes.

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