Test your blood sugar regularly

Believe it or not, blood sugar monitoring really is as important as you have heard. Recent studies confirm that there is a direct correlation between how often people test and how well their blood sugar is controlled. But it does not stop there. Good blood sugar control can clearly lead to a reduction in complications associated with diabetes.

The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT)—a 10-year study of more than 1,400 people with Type 1 Diabetes—showed how lowering blood sugar level translates into reduced risk of common long-term complications.

The UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPS)*, which followed more than 3,867 people with Type 2 Diabetes for an average follow-up-of 10 years, found that better blood sugar control can reduce the risk of eye disease by 25% and early kidney damage by 33%.

More reasons for regular blood sugar monitoring
You have probably already figured out that you cannot measure your blood sugar just by the way you feel. Self-testing gives you an indicator when your blood sugar is rising or dropping, and it is the only way to see how different foods, exercises, medications and other factors affect your blood sugar level.

*UKPDS 33 – reference Lancet 1998:352.837-853

Information courtesy from Roche Diagnostics (M) Sdn Bhd