Controlling Diabetes with Continuous Glucose Monitoring
Diabetics have no other option except going through a routine of monitoring and maintaining their blood sugar levels, throughout their lives. This is especially true for diabetics with the type 1 form of the disease.

The blood sugar levels indicate the current level of glucose in the blood. A diabetic needs to monitor the blood glucose level primarily to determine how much insulin is required. One more thing that diabetics need to do is to monitor what they eat. Diet plays an important role in determining the blood glucose levels. A number of doctors are of the opinion that type 2 form of the disease can be controlled just by monitoring the diet.

Diabetics may go through periods of either high or low blood sugar, known as hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. Paying attention to the diet will help diabetics determine what foods are desirable and what foods need to be altogether avoided.

However, patients with type 1 diabetes need to monitor their blood sugar levels. There is no other option for them, as they need to adjust their dose of insulin accordingly. They should test their blood glucose at a minimum of two times in a day and may need to test the glucose up to 6 times a day in case they feel they are going through a high or a low glucose level.

Blood glucose levels can be tested by obtaining a blood sample by a finger prick. The blood is then placed on a testing strip for about 30 seconds before a result is available.

Research is being carried out on a new gadget that can continuously monitor blood glucose levels and signal if blood glucose level is either falling too low or is too high. The monitors are not so accurate as the results from a finger prick, but work on improving the results is being carried out.

Once the performance and design of the monitor has been perfected, diabetics will be free of the tedium of testing their blood sugar level by pricking their fingers and testing the blood with a testing strip.

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