Blood Glucose Testing

Testing Your HbA1C Level 

If you are diabetic your doctor should test your blood HbA1c level regularly. This test will show the average blood level of glucose over the last few of months. This is glycosolated haemoglobin, or in other words the glucose in your blood that permanently sticks to the circulating red cells in your blood. This HbA1c level changes very slowly, unlike the actual glucose level in blood, which can change quickly.

Glycosolated haemoglobin HbA1c should ideally be tested by your doctor four times a year if you are a type 1 diabetic (using insulin), or twice a year if you are a type 2 diabetic (diet or tablets), and more regularly if you change your treatment in any way, or feel unwell due to diabetes. If you are not offered these tests, or if it is difficult to always get to see the doctor this regularly, then you can do these tests at home yourself.

You can now check your own glycosolated haemoglobin HbA1c level at home with the GlycoMen A1c Test K it if you need to, and send the results away for analysis. The results can be posted or e-mailed back to you, and a copy sent you your doctor if you would like.

Your A1c level should ideally be under 7, and you would want to discuss higher levels with your doctor.

This shows how well your diabetes is being controlled. For many people this is all that is needed.

Testing Your Blood Glucose Level

Some people wish to take more control of their own diabetes, and this is encouraged by the NHS. This is especially useful for anyone using insulin, and for any diabetic when they are not feeling well, or are ill. However, it is considered that many patients don't benefit from regularly measuring their own blood glucose levels, and that this can cause a lot of stress in some patients. Excessive testing of blood glucose can waste NHS resources, and in many cases doesn't show any improvement in health compared with those who don't test.

Blood glucose testing using a blood glucose meter gives an immediate reading of your blood glucose level. This can give you information on your blood glucose control as it is now, at this moment.

Take advice from your doctor first, as doing your own blood glucose tests will not be suitable for everyone. Your doctor can advise how often to do the tests, and at what time of day. There is no benefit in doing more tests than are necessary. Your doctor will give you guidance to the blood glucose levels you are aiming for. Typically your doctor will recommend testing your blood glucose level if your have recently been diagnosed as being diabetic: 

• to check changes in your blood glucose levels when you change lifestyle or medication
• to monitor changes if you are ill
• to ensure safety during activities e.g. driving
• if your are taking glucose-lowering medicines for times when you may need to check for low blood sugar levels
• if you are on insulin treatment

You have to buy a blood glucose meter yourself, as they are not available on the NHS. Your doctor can prescribe the test strips and lancets on NHS prescriptions, so it is best to check that the doctor wants you to do your own blood glucose testing first. These tests give you the level of glucose in your blood at one particular moment, and are different from the tests the doctor does.

An alternative to blood testing is to use urine tests, which shows when you have so much glucose in your blood that is overflows into your urine. They are not as sensitive as blood tests, and do not show you when glucose levels are just a bit high. They do have the advantage that you don't have to prick your finger. They may be all that you need for testing, so discuss this with your doctor. Urine testing is not normally suitable if you are using insulin, as it can not show you when your glucose level is getting dangerously low, and you would need to test your blood to show this.

Knowing what to do with the results of the tests is more important than just collecting a lot of results. It is a complete waste of time collecting your blood glucose results if you don't know what to do when the readings change. Discuss this with your doctor and write down an action plan. It is only then that you start to be in control of your diabetes. You can get extra information from our recommended diabetes books.

Testing more often than you need is a waste of time. If you are using insulin you need to follow your doctor's advice on how often to test, and this could be once, twice or more each day. If you are controlled by diet or tablets, then testing twice a week may be enough, but ask your doctor for advice. If you feel unwell, or if you are ill, then you should test more often, as this is the time that your blood glucose can be unpredictable. This will show you if a low or high glucose level is contributing to your illness, and prompt you to take action, according to the health plan that you have agreed with your doctor.

Test strips are used only once, and then thrown away. It is important to keep them in their original container, and to put the lid back on quickly, as they are often sensitive to moisture in the air. Wash your hands before doing a test, so there is nothing to contaminate the results, and do not touch the active part of the test strip before use. Some test strips can vary from batch to batch, and need to have a batch number put into the meter when you open a new pot. Do not use test strips after their expiry date. Check their expiry dates, as some only have a two or three month life once opened.

Lancets are very sharp, and are used to prick your finger to draw a small amount of blood for testing. They are best used in the special 'pens' that come with the blood glucose meters. For more information on lancets and lancing devices click here.

You normally get blood from your finger, but some blood glucose meters let you test your arm as well. This is not so sensitive as testing your finger, and you should read the instructions fully and check with your doctor before testing in this way.

If the results are too low you may be in danger of hypoglycaemia and passing-out, and you should eat something sweet to raise your blood glucose level.

If the results are too high you should look at your diet, and discuss this with your doctor. Your doctor may want to change your medication if the results are always too high.

If you are ill you should normally test more often, as blood glucose levels can change during illness.

Follow the instructions fully when using your blood glucose meter, as it is much more likely to get a wrong reading by using it wrongly, than by the meter being wrong.

If you have a problem or question about your blood glucose meter, then phone the manufacturer's help line. These are normally excellent, and you can often get things for free, such as new batteries and test solutions.