A blood sugar goal is the range you're trying to reach as much as possible. Careful monitoring is the only way to ensure that your blood sugar level stays within the target range. So how do you keep your glucose levels stable? How do you know when you have an increase in sugar and what foods caused it? That's where the CGM comes into play. For people with type 2 diabetes, the American Diabetes Association also recommends that blood sugar levels be individualized.
Low blood sugar levels are best treated with carbohydrates that can be quickly absorbed by the body, such as fruit juice or glucose tablets. Regular aerobic exercise and strength training exercises at least two days a week can help control blood sugar more effectively than doing any type of exercise alone. Your doctor will likely test your blood glucose levels as a diabetes screening test during a standard annual checkup. If blood sugar levels aren't high enough to put you or your child at immediate risk, you may be referred to a provider who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes (endocrinologist).
Random blood sugar values aren't usually very helpful to your provider, and this can be frustrating for people with diabetes. Your blood sugar level can rise for many reasons, such as eating too much, being sick, or not taking enough glucose-lowering medications. Physical activity lowers blood sugar by moving sugar to cells, where it is used as energy. It measures the percentage of blood sugar bound to hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells.
If you take medications that lower blood sugar, including insulin, your blood sugar level can drop for many reasons. Your A1C goal may vary depending on your age and several other factors, such as other medical conditions you may have or your ability to feel when your blood sugar level is low. Depending on your treatment plan, you can check and record your blood sugar level up to four times a day, or more often if you're taking insulin. Treatment for type 1 diabetes includes insulin injections or the use of an insulin pump, frequent blood sugar checks, and carbohydrate counting.
It is often much more useful to have fewer values with more information (description and time of meals, description and time of exercise, dose and time of medication) related to blood sugar level to help guide decisions about medications and dose adjustments.
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