Both our knowledge and tools for diabetes are now much better. Even so, some still have quite a hard time with it. Part of the problem may involve old myths and mistaken ideas. Myths often develop about things that are important, or that we find hard to understand. Diabetes certainly qualifies on both counts!

If you are under the wrong impression about your diabetes, it is easy to make poor choices. You may be working harder than necessary because you do not know all of your options.

Many common myths about blood glucose monitoring exist. Learning the truth behind them can help you to better manage this condition.

Myth # 1: Only people with ‘bad’ diabetes test their blood glucose.

Truth: Everyone with diabetes needs to regularly test blood glucose, either to gain or keep control. Control hinges on the decisions you make. Testing blood glucose at home, in your day-to-day life, is your best tool to guide your decisions.

Myth # 2: Test results belong to my doctor, who will tell me what to do.

Truth: Test results belong first and foremost to you. Your doctor is not the one managing your diabetes every day. The best time to act on blood glucose results is in the moment – not weeks or months later when you see your doctor.

Myth # 3: I check my blood glucose because my doctor said so.

Truth: You do not check your blood glucose to please your doctor, but to protect
your health. High blood glucose attacks your blood vessels, not your doctor. Blood glucose numbers are your tool to see how things are going with your diabetes. They give you feedback on decisions you have made. They show whether your treatment is working or not.

Myth # 4: Blood testing is the most painful thing about having diabetes.

Truth: While testing can be uncomfortable and a bother, for most people it is not the most painful part of having diabetes. For many, the pain comes from doing this and other difficult things but not seeing any improvement. Judge every part of a diabetes plan by its ability to make your life easier, your control better, or both.

Discover for yourself how blood glucose results can help you:

improve control
enhance your safety and peace of mind
gain freedom in many life choices.

Facts about blood glucose monitoring equipment

Blood testing equipment and technology get better every year. If your system or lancing device is over a year old, newer options can do more for you.

Eliminate pain - Most systems now offer the option of alternate site testing. Testing an area like your forearm is less painful. It does require a special technique, which is explained in the instruction booklet. A special lancing device tip that tests away from sensitive fingertips is included in the kit. It is also limited to specific times – check with your diabetes eduator to see if this is an option for you.
Reduce pain - Better designed lancing devices and lancets can make even fingertip testing less painful. Finer lancets help to reduce pain, and many sizes are available. Using the lowest depth number on your lancing device to collect blood can cut down on pain and bruising. Experiment to find which number you need to get the job done.
Reduce the time of the test – Tests lasting only a few seconds can make testing on the go much more convenient and practical. (Keeping a meter at work and one at home can also help.)
Smaller blood sample - Most of the newer systems require a blood sample a fraction of the size than that of older meters. This makes testing easier and less frustrating. It can even reduce pain, as you do not need to go in as deeply.

Facts about blood glucose monitoring results - make monitoring your ‘Tool of Discovery’

Few people achieve the blood glucose targets that experts recommend, for different reasons.

Some only have general information about diabetes - You need specific advice about how to manage your diabetes in your life – with foods, your medications, and your priorities.
Some only gather numbers when they test - When you or your doctor review your numbers, you need to know the conditions surrounding each number. Without knowing what affected the test, you cannot know how to improve your results.
Some test too little - You need to test enough to discover patterns and relationships.
Use the three-step discovery process below to learn exactly how your diabetes works. Then, take specific actions to reach your goals. No more testing without improvement.

Step 1: Decide to do it

If you are not happy with how your diabetes management is going, there is no time like the present to look at the problems.

Step 2: Gather information

Use a form to gather detailed information for at least three to four days (see table below).

Table 1: Gathering Information Take a blank piece of paper and divide it into sections like this:
Fasting blood sugar	Food eaten/ amount	1 - 2 hour blood sugar after meal	Before lunch	blood sugar	Food eaten/amount	1 - 2 hour blood sugar after meal

Before supper	Blood sugar	Food eaten/amount	1 - 2 hour blood sugar after meal	Before bed blood sugar	Middle of the night blood sugar	Notes: Exercise, Stress, Other

Repeat as needed.

In addition to your blood glucose results, record the things that contribute to those numbers. Include what you eat and how much, snacks, medications, exercise, illness or stress. Go about your usual life. Eat the foods you enjoy and normally consume. This is the way to learn the most about your diabetes. Find out what does and doesn’t work.

Be sure it is the right information

Blood glucose results taken at different times of the day gives you different information. Looked at together, they can show exactly how both your treatment and your actions affect your blood glucose.

Fasting and before meal checks tell you if you have enough insulin* to control blood glucose when you are not eating. They are also the starting point for seeing the effect of what you eat.
After meal checks show you if your insulin* matched what you ate.
Bedtime and nighttime checks show the pattern of blood glucose overnight and can reveal unrecognized lows.
Checks before driving or exercising tell you where you stand when going low would be dangerous or when risk of lows is high.

When you have collected a few days of records, move on to Step 3.

Step 3: Use what you find

Start with the morning fasting – If your blood glucose averages over 7 mmol/L before breakfast, especially if it rises overnight, your body may be releasing extra glucose at night. See your doctor, since this problem is best treated with medication. Starting high each morning makes it hard to control blood glucose for the rest of the day.

Highs before other meals – Does your blood glucose average over 7 mmol/L before lunch or dinner after the morning fasting level has been fixed? Check to see whether blood glucose two hours after the previous meal was also high. If so, take steps to correct it. This can include looking at the type and quantity of food eaten, exercising to help lower blood glucose levels or consulting with your doctor about medication needs.

Look at each meal – If your blood glucose rises more than 3 mmol/L when you eat, you did not use enough insulin* to match what you ate. Consider reducing carbohydrate to better match your insulin. This makes most sense if you are eating more than 45 to 60 grams of carbohydrate at a meal. If your blood glucose rises over 3 mmol/L when you eat less than 45 to 60 grams, your mealtime insulin* levels are too low. Talk to your doctor about adjusting medications or doses. If you do not know how to identify and count carbohydrate foods, ask your health care team for help.

If your blood glucose rises more than 3 mmol/L after eating:

More than 45 to 60 grams of carbohydrate	Reduce carbohydrate
Less than 45 to 60 grams of carbohydrate	Increase insulin at mealtime

If you find lows – Blood glucose of 4 mmol/L or less means you have too much insulin* for the current need. This can happen if you delay or skip a meal or snack or are more active. If this is not the case, your medications may need adjustment.

The information you gain from testing can show you how to enjoy favorite foods and activities without sacrificing blood glucose control. Diabetes control and an enjoyable life are a package deal. You cannot have one without the other. Using these tools can help make life with diabetes easier, safer and much more satisfying!

Making Sense of the Myth Discover the truth about blood glucose monitoring