Essay on Self-Managed Blood Glucose

Self-managed blood glucose is a medical practice through which individuals personally manage their blood glucose. It is essential to regularly check ones blood glucose with the aim of retaining a healthy living. In other words, to keep one's blood glucose levels in a range that promotes healthy life requires regular monitoring and assessment. As earlier mentioned, self-managed blood glucose is a process that involves quite some phases such as data collection, recording, analyzing and interpretation (Karter, 2001). To have a proper diagnosis of patients, all medical practitioners ought to have a clear understanding of all these processes. Similarly, the patients must have deep insight especially on self-monitoring and appropriate data gathering. Self-managed blood glucose is practiced by individuals with diabetes. Nevertheless, it is recommended that all people to continually monitor their blood glucose levels to ensure it is maintained at a range that poses no health implications. Over the years, individuals at global scales have become conscious of their health, and thus practices such as self-managed blood glucose have continually gained popularity. According to WHO, such a move will promote sustainable health and hence global developments.

This paper reviews a case study on self-managed blood glucose whereby the patient uses test strips. This paper aims to have a better understanding of how test strips function as well as give appropriate recommendations to the specific patient. The average number of test strips used in one month added up to 97. It is worth noting that this amount varies based on the patients health and treatment option. As earlier stated in the introduction, self-managed blood glucose, otherwise known as SMBG, is a chief component of the management of diabetes. In this case, we will see that it provides crucial information concerning current glycolic status. Such data is necessary for triggering prompt treatment and appropriate adjustments to better the control of glucose.

Looking at the results of the study, the average usage of strips per person per month was 97.5+- 70.1. Among the patients treated solely with insulin, 86% of them used long-acting insulin, 11% of them used crystalline insulin, and 4% used both types. Based on the findings of the study, individuals that were treated with a combination of insulin and OAD use relatively fewer strips than those treated with insulin alone, i.e., p<0.001. Therefore, self-managed blood glucose is considered a chief component of the efficient and effective management of diabetic patients. It is recommended that individuals on intensive insulin monitoring should perform self-monitoring at least prior snacks and meals, as well as after the meals, slightly before bedtime, and before strenuous tasks. Similarly, self-monitoring can be conducted when there is suspicion of episodes of hypoglycemia. It is recommended that affected patients should take at least eight to ten tests in a day (Guerci, 2003).

In the course of self-management of blood glucose, it is crucial to understand the factors that both raise or lower the blood glucose levels. Having this knowledge will help both the patient and medical caregiver to be in a better position to control their blood glucose and give appropriate advice respectively. A rise in blood glucose levels is known as hyperglycemia while a drop beyond the standard is known as hypoglycemia. The following table shows the factors that influence the levels of blood glucose levels.

Factors that make blood glucose levels to rise. Factors that make blood glucose levels to fall.

Too much food, specifically with plenty of carbohydrates.

Being inactive

Side effects of medications.

Illness

Dehydration

Stress Less food.

Alcohol consumption in excess.

Side effects of medications

Physical activity.

References

Guerci, B., Drouin, P., Grange, V., Bougneres, P., Fontaine, P., Kerlan, V.. & ASIA Group.

(2003). Self-monitoring of blood glucose significantly improves metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: the Auto-Surveillance Intervention Active (ASIA) study. Diabetes & metabolism, 29(6), 587-594.Karter, A. J., Ackerson, L. M., Darbinian, J. A., DAgostino, R. B., Ferrara, A., Liu, J., &

Selby, J. V. (2001). Self-monitoring of blood glucose levels and glycemic control: the Northern California Kaiser Permanente Diabetes registry. The American journal of medicine, 111(1), 1-9.Karter, A. J., Ferrara, A., Darbinian, J. A., Ackerson, L. M., & Selby, J. V. (2000). Self-

monitoring of blood glucose: language and financial barriers in a managed care population with diabetes. Diabetes care, 23(4), 477-483.