Only through skillful self-control can you effectively maintain optimal physiological blood glucose levels - so-called normoglycemia.
THE RULES OF SELF-DIAGNOSIS OF DIABETES
Diabetes is a chronic disease lasting until the end of the patient's life, and poorly treated threatens with disability and loss of life.
Poorly treated diabetes can cause the development of late complications - macro and microangiopathy such as diabetic neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, atherosclerosis with its complications such as angina pectoris, intermittent claudication, infarction and stroke. One of the conditions for effective fight against the disease and counteracting its complications is the activation of the patient's participation in treatment, i.e. constant domestic self-control.
PRINCIPLES OF SELF-CONTROL
What is the prerequisite for self-control in diabetes?
The first pre-condition for self-control is elementary patient's knowledge about the disease and good cooperation with the doctor. Already during the first visits to a doctor who is diabetic, he should be told what he should seek for the purposes of treatment (including blood sugar level). How should he receive information materials discussing the principles of self-control and treatment of the disease, in the form of brochures, books, or tips on what he should read.
What is the basic method of self-control?
1. The basic method of diabetes self-monitoring is the adequately frequent determination of blood glucose (the so-called glycemia). Currently, glycemic measurement is dominated by means of a glucometer - a simple and relatively cheap device - a glucometer.
2. Periodic examination of the amount of glucose in the urine (possibly the presence of acetone in the urine).
3. In practice, self-control of type 1 diabetes mellitus is also based on the symptoms experienced by the patient.
Should we save the results of our measurements?
Yes, it is very important for self-assessment and subsequent consultation with a doctor. For the proper control of diabetes, it is necessary to record every measurement of blood glucose or glucosuria (if we also measure the level). It is important to record how you measure time against a meal (eg fasting, how many minutes before a meal and how much after a meal).
What else should we write into the self-monitoring journal?
Important annotations are:
· Self-evaluation of the diet (eg according to the calorie estimate and carbohydrate content);
· Recording any change to a significant change in diet or treatment;
· Description of episodes - such as hypoglycemia, infection, emotional experience, infection, menstruation, etc .;
· Providing a journal to the doctor at each visit.
When should blood sugar control (glycemic control) or urine sugar (glucose control) be checked?
· Firstly, fasting;
· After different, smaller and larger meals;
· After eating sweets;
· After physical exercise
· At night, when suspected nocturnal hypoglycaemia or severe hyperglycaemia on an empty stomach;
· In the daily collection of urine.
WARNING:
The determination of blood glucose and urine is the most important indicator of the assessment of current diabetes control.
