Research Snippets of useful information

Here I list extra bits of information that I found/find useful.

Blood glucose levels

Self-monitoring of blood glucose can be a beneficial part of diabetes management. As part of the day-to-day routine it can help with necessary lifestyle and treatment choices as well as help to monitor for symptoms of hypo- or hyperglycaemia. Monitoring can also help you and your healthcare team to alter treatment which in turn can help prevent any long-term complications from developing.

Some people with diabetes (but not all) will test their blood glucose levels at home. Home blood glucose testing gives an accurate picture of your blood glucose level at the time of the test. It involves pricking the side of your finger (as opposed to the pad) with a finger-pricking device and putting a drop of blood on a testing strip.

Some people can't see the point of testing as they think they know by the way they feel, but the way you feel is not always a good or accurate guide to what is happening.

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Blood glucose targets

It is important that the blood glucose levels being aimed for are as near normal as possible (that is in the range of those of a person who does not have diabetes). These are:

  • 3.5–5.5mmol/l* before meals
  • less than 8mmol/l, two hours after meals.

There are many different opinions about the ideal range to aim for. As this is so individual to each person, the target levels must be agreed between the person and their diabetes team.

The target blood glucose ranges below are indicated as a guide.

Type 2 diabetes (NICE 2008)

  • before meals: 4–7mmol/l
  • two hours after meals: less than 8.5mmol/l.

Pregnant women with diabetes (NICE 2015)

  • fasting: below 5.3mmol/l

    and

  • 1 hour after meals: below 7.8mmol/l or
  • 2 hours after meals: below 6.4mmol/l 

*millimoles per litre: a measurement of the concentration of a substance in a given amount of liquid

HbA1c (Glycated haemoglobin) and fructosamine

At least once a year, your doctor should check your long-term diabetes control by taking a blood sample from your arm.

HbA1c

The most common test is the HbA1c test, which indicates your blood glucose levels for the previous two to three months. The HbA1c measures the amount of glucose that is being carried by the red blood cells in the body.

HbA1c targets

For most adults with diabetes, the HbA1c target is below 48 mmol/mol, since evidence shows that this can reduce the risk of developing complications, such as nerve damage, eye disease, kidney disease and heart disease. Individuals at risk of severe hypoglycaemia should aim for an HbA1c of less than 58 mmol/mol. However, any reduction in HbA1c levels (and therefore, any improvement in control), is still considered to have beneficial effects on the onset and progression of complications.

HbA1c results

You will now be getting used to seeing your HbA1c results reported using the IFCC (International Federation of Clinical Chemistry) reference measurement procedure of mmol/mol.