Your doctor can use blood tests to identify diabetes, prediabetes, and gestational diabetes. The results of these tests reveal whether your blood sugar, also known as blood glucose, is above the healthy threshold for you.
Furthermore, these blood tests can distinguish the type of diabetes you have. You might use diabetes test strips to monitor your blood sugar levels, but they cannot provide a precise diagnosis of diabetes.
Diabetes Test Strips
Diabetes test strips simplify blood glucose monitoring. This is crucial for individuals living with diabetes. The strips operate with glucose meters to “read” your blood sugar levels.
Managing diabetes becomes more straightforward when you are aware of your blood glucose levels. This awareness helps you identify which foods, medicines, and activities positively or negatively affect your blood sugar.
To use a blood strip to check your blood sugar, follow these steps:
- Insert a diabetes test strip into your blood glucose meter.
- Prick your fingertip with the meter’s small needle.
- Squeeze out a drop of blood and touch it to the edge of the test strip.
You will see your blood sugar reading within seconds of completing the process.
Each test strip is for single-use only, meaning you’ll need a new strip each time you check your blood sugar.
Your doctor will guide you on how frequently to check your blood sugar using these test strips. For type 1 diabetes, you may need to use them up to ten times daily. For type 2 diabetes, it may only be necessary twice a day.
Home-Based Diabetes Testing
Blood sugar tests are among the simplest methods for monitoring your glucose levels. Here are some important tips for performing at-home diabetes tests:
- Fingertip blood samples provide the most accurate results, but some tests allow pricking your thigh or arm. Consult your doctor before attempting these alternative sampling sites.
- If you are not on insulin, ask your doctor if and how often you should test your blood sugar.
- Consider testing before and after meals to see how your diet affects your blood glucose levels.
- Maintaining a blood glucose chart is essential for tracking your results. This information can help identify patterns and potential health concerns in the future.
If you suspect you might have diabetes, avoid diagnosing and treating yourself. Remember, diabetes cannot be confirmed solely through blood testing tools; these tools are for monitoring sugar levels, not for diagnosis. For an accurate diagnosis and diabetes testing, it is best to consult your doctor.