Self-monitoring your blood glucose levels is not routinely recommended if you have type 2 diabetes and are not taking insulin or a sulfonylurea. Talk to your healthcare provider about reviewing your self-monitoring of blood glucose levels.
Do you need to test?
Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the body either cannot respond to insulin or cannot produce enough insulin to control glucose levels in the blood. Type 2 diabetes is associated with genetics and lifestyle factors (e.g. poor diet, obesity, physical inactivity). Blood glucose levels in people with diabetes are usually checked by your doctor four times per year, using a laboratory test called HbA1c, or a ‘finger prick’ test and a blood glucose monitor. Self-monitoring is when you check your blood glucose levels at home using the ‘finger prick’ test.
If you have type 2 diabetes and are not taking insulin or a sulfonylurea, self-monitoring of your blood glucose levels is not routinely recommended.
Research shows self-monitoring of blood glucose provides only slight improvement in control of type 2 diabetes, however general well-being or general health-related quality of life is not improved. Talk to your health professional about when self-monitoring might be of benefit, such as assessing low blood sugar.
Whether you self-monitor your blood glucose or not, the following advice will help manage your diabetes.
What can you do?
Manage your weight
Know your healthy weight and, if needed, develop a healthy eating and exercise plan to achieve those goals.
Eat a healthy diet
Maintain a balanced diet that includes a wide range of vegetables, moderate amounts of high-fibre carbohydrates that have a low glycaemic index (GI), lean cuts of meat and fish, low-fat dairy products, and small amounts of high fat and sugary foods. Low GI foods release glucose into the blood slowly, which helps blood glucose levels rise steadily and avoid a glucose ‘high’.
Exercise regularly
Regularly exercising improves blood glucose control and overall health and wellbeing. Aim for 150–250 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise (e.g. brisk walking, aqua aerobics) or 90 minutes of vigorous activity (e.g. jogging, swimming).
Take your medicines correctly
If you have been prescribed medicines to control your blood glucose levels, it is important to take your medicines at the correct dose and times.
It's OK to ask questions
If you have questions about your symptoms or the medicines managing your symptoms, speak with your doctor or other healthcare provider.
5 Questions
5 questions to ask your doctor or other healthcare provider to make sure you end up with the right amount of care.