Check Your Blood Sugar Levels Before Sleeping
Checking your blood sugar levels before sleeping is a good idea to make sure you’re not going low. If you are using a glucose meter try to avoid going to bed with hypoglycemia. If you have a continuous glucose monitor make sure you review the
It might take some practice but eventually, this routine could become natural and we’ll be able to have an accurate representation of what our body needs without having to even think about it.
If any numbers seem high at all – don’t hesitate check with your doctor as soon as possible so they can help you figure out how best to get them under control. We want those numbers right where they should be!
Why Doctors Order It
A fasting blood glucose test is done to screen for prediabetes and diabetes. It also helps doctors monitor diabetes and determine if medications and dietary changes are having an effect .
Your fasting blood glucose level is the lowest your blood sugar can be because the influence of recent meals is minimized .
Fasting blood sugar is often checked alongside HbA1c , which is a measure of your blood sugar levels over the past three months. The more sugar there is in the blood, the more it will attach to hemoglobin, raising HbA1c .
Taken together, the two offer more information than each test alone. For example, even if your blood sugar levels are very high at one random point, they may have been mostly low over the past couple of months . On the other hand, HBA1c could be higher but your glucose levels at the moment lower.
Apart from diabetes, abnormal levels can point out issues such as insulin resistance, hormonal imbalances, and pancreatic, liver, or kidney disease.
Which Diabetic Supplies Are Covered By Medicare
For those with diabetes, Medicare Part B covers three main areas of diabetic supplies: blood sugar self-testing equipment and supplies, insulin pumps, and therapeutic shoes or inserts. For these areas, Medicare typically covers 80% of the visit and you will pay 20% if you do not have coinsurance. These costs can also go toward the Part B deductible.
Medicare Part B also covers certain diabetic screenings and services.
If you have an insulin pump, Medicare Part B covers the pump as well as the insulin under durable medical equipment instead of as medicine under Part D, explains Lindsey Hudson, APRN, NP-C, and certified diabetes care and education specialist working in Charleston, South Carolina, and a member of the SingleCare Medical Board.
Medicare Part B also covers certain diabetic screenings and services. For the supplies, screenings, and services below, note that Medicare consumers may have to pay coinsurance, copays, and/or deductibles depending on their plan.
You May Like: Which Intermittent Fasting Works Best
Normal And Diabetic Blood Sugar Ranges
For the majority of healthy individuals, normal blood sugar levels are as follows:
- Between 4.0 to 5.4 mmol/L when fasting
- Up to 7.8 mmol/L 2 hours after eating
For people with diabetes, blood sugar level targets are as follows:
- Before meals : 4 to 7 mmol/L for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes
- After meals : under 9 mmol/L for people with type 1 diabetes and under 8.5mmol/L for people with type 2 diabetes
What Should I Do After I Check My Blood Glucose
Write the blood glucose number in a log book or on a log sheet , and:
- Include all of your blood glucose numbers.
- Write a comment if there is a reason the blood glucose is above or below target.
- Take your blood glucose meter with you when you are away from home.
- Know your blood glucose numbers when you call the clinic or the doctor.
- Bring your blood glucose meter and blood glucose records to all your appointments.
- Bring a list of any questions that you may have.
Read Also: Can You Lose Belly Fat By Fasting
Expired Or Defective Insulin
There are specific requirements for storing and using insulin. Two things that render insulin ineffective are temperature and expiration. I once had an insulin pen that was exposed to way too much heat and it resulted in my blood sugar levels being high. As soon as started dosing with the new pen my blood sugar went back to normal.
The 411 On A1c: Normal A1c Levels And 15 Ways To Lower High A1c
The hemoglobin A1C test is the closest thing to a diabetes scorecard you can find. Whether someone has had diabetes mellitus for years or if they have just been diagnosed, they have probably heard about this test. Unlike blood sugar meters people use at home, the A1C measures an average blood sugar level over the past several months by analyzing how many of a patients hemoglobin cells have glucose attached to them. The test results keep track of how well a person is managing his or her diabetes.
Also Check: What Do You Do For Intermittent Fasting
How Do I Take Care Of My Blood Glucose Meter
- Set the date and time when you get a new meter.
- Make sure the date and time are right each time you use your meter.
- Use the control solution as needed. This will let you know the meter and test strips are working right. Use it:
- When you get a new meter.
- When you get new test strips.
- When you think that the meter is not giving you the right blood glucose number.
Therapeutic Shoes Or Inserts
If you meet certain conditions Medicare will cover either a pair of depth-inlay shoes with three pairs of inserts OR a pair of custom-molded shoes with inserts every year. Individuals only qualify for custom-molded shoes if they have a foot deformity that prevents them from wearing in-lay shoes.
RELATED: Foot care for people with diabetes
Also Check: What Can You Eat Intermittent Fasting
A Word About Lada Latent Autoimmune Diabetes In Adults
If all of the information in this post does not help you understand your rising blood glucose on the low-carb diet, and your blood glucose continues to rise higher and higher, not only in the morning but at other times of day, there may be a potential issue of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults , also sometimes called type 1.5 diabetes.11
Both Dr. Hallberg and Dr. Fung say they see LADA regularly among their patients who may have been misdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes and have LADA instead.
LADA is like type 1 diabetes in that antibodies are attacking the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, but it arises in adulthood, not in childhood or adolescence. Diabetes researchers note that LADA also has features of type 2 diabetes, but the patients usually are thinner and progress to needing insulin faster because their insulin-producing beta cells have been attacked by antibodies. The highest rates of LADA are found in Northern Europe, with up to 14% of those with type 2 diabetes actually having it.12
I test serum C-peptide and insulin in everybody in my Intensive Dietary Management program, notes Dr. Fung. I re-check them over time and it often takes 6 months to 1 year to clinch the diagnosis. I would suspect about 5-10% of my type 2s are actually LADA.
Dr. Naiman has similar experiences and routines.13
Blood Sugar And Insulin An Overview
The carbohydrates that you consume are broken down by your body. This process produces glucose . The primary energy source for the cells is this glucose. The cells in your liver, muscles, and fats use this glucose as an energy source to function correctly. This is possible because of insulin. The excess glucose that is not used up by your body for energy is converted and deposited as fats. These fats can give you energy whenever you have low glucose levels.
The insulin has two main functions. The first is to allow the cells to use the generated glucose generated as an energy source. The second is to make sure that normal levels of glucose are maintained in your bloodstream.
Also Check: How Long For Intermittent Fasting To Work
How Does Type 1 Diabetes Affect Your Childs Body
Type 1 diabetes , sometimes called juvenile diabetes, happens when your childs body stops producing insulin, a hormone that helps convert glucose from food into energy. Without it, the body cant naturally regulate blood sugar levels. So, your child must get insulin from an outside sourceinjected by syringe or infused into the body by a device called an insulin pump. Otherwise, blood sugar levels can soar too high, which can cause a number of long-term health problems from blindness to organ and limb damage if untreated.
To make sure that blood sugar levels stay in a healthy range when your child eats, you have to take a drop of blood from a finger stick and use a device called a glucometer to test it. Each result guides how many grams of carbohydrates your child can eat, the insulin dose, or how much exercise your child needs. High blood sugar isnt the only issue. Low blood sugar can cause problems when your child has too much insulin and not enough food in the body. Its a lot to manage.
Now That Youre Checking Your Blood Glucose What Do The Numbers Mean
Depending on your diabetes treatment plan, your doctor or diabetes educator may advise you to check once a week, once a day or up to 10 times a day . But what does it mean when you see a 67, 101 or 350 on your meter? And what is a normal blood sugar, anyway? Great questions! After all, if you dont know what the numbers on your meter mean, its hard to know how youre doing.
The American Diabetes Association provides guidelines for blood glucose goals for people with diabetes, and the goals vary depending on when youre checking your glucose:
Fasting and before meals: 80130 mg/dl
Postprandial : Less than 180 mg/dl
By the way, these guidelines are for non-pregnant adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Children, adolescents and pregnant women may have different goals.
Your blood glucose goals may be different, however. If youre younger, have had diabetes for a shorter amount of time or are not taking any medicine for your diabetes, your glucose goals might be a little tighter, or lower. Likewise, your blood glucose goals may be higher than what ADA recommends if youre older, have diabetes complications, or dont get symptoms when your blood glucose is low.
Bottom line: talk with your health-care provider about the following:
When to check your blood glucose How often to check your blood glucose What your blood glucose goals are
Dont Miss:How Much Weight Can You Lose In 2 Weeks Fasting
Don’t Miss: How Much Weight Will I Lose Intermittent Fasting
What Number Should My Blood Glucose Be
Blood glucose is measured in mg/dl. The normal range for blood glucose for people without diabetes is 70 to 120 mg/dl.
The Diabetes Center has guidelines for blood glucose readings. This is called a target range. There may be times when your healthcare provider gives you a different target range, like for bedtime, with exercise, or after eating.
Nationwide Childrens Hospital Diabetes Center Target Blood Glucose Ranges
| Age |
The goal is to keep the blood glucose within the target range most of the time.
Diet And Exercise To Reduce Blood Sugar
Aside from taking any medications that you may be prescribed, losing extra weight, getting active, and eating right can be the best ways to reduce blood sugar.
Losing weight: Any pounds that you lose if your body mass index is over 30 can lower your blood sugar dramatically. These strategies are simple and effective.
- Eating more vegetables.
- Cutting portion sizes of high-calorie foods.
- Eating less often at restaurants, or eating half of the amount you are served.
- Swapping sugary beverages for water and fruit for dessert.
- Steaming, grilled, and baking instead of frying with added fats.
You can check your BMI here. Overweight is over 25, and obese is over 30.
Getting active: Getting moving increases insulin sensitivity, lowers blood sugar, and also helps you lose weight. This includes dedicated workouts, activity throughout the day, and breaking up sedentary time.
Eating right: While weight loss is a significant factor in blood sugar control, eating right also helps reduce blood sugar. What does eating right include?
Some research suggests that a low-glycemic diet can be helpful. You can choose one by limiting sugar and refined starches, having fiber, protein, and fat with your carbohydrate sources, and choosing less processed foods, such as whole grains instead of refined.
Dont Miss: Is Instant Oatmeal Good For Diabetics
Don’t Miss: What To Expect When You Start Intermittent Fasting
Does Medicare Cover Diabetic Supplies
Medicare is a government insurance program that covers individuals 65 years and older, as well as people with certain disabilities. One in five Americans 65 years or older have either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, according to the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey. In the same survey, 28% of all Medicare recipients self-reported that they either had some type of diabetes or were pre-diabetic. Older individuals are also more prone to diabetes as they age, according to the American Diabetes Association,due to increasing insulin resistance and impaired pancreatic function.
With such a large portion of Medicare recipients with diabetic needs, is there adequate Medicare coverage for diabetic supplies? According to a 2021 SingleCare survey, 20% of survey respondents reported that Medicare or Medicaid completely covers their diabetes care. An additional 10% reported that Medicare or Medicaid partially covers their diabetes care. Although any coverage is helpful when it comes to expensive medications and diabetic testing supplies, many Medicare consumers are still looking for ways to save.
Fasting Plasma Glucose Test
A fasting plasma glucose test is taken after at least eight hours of fasting and is therefore usually taken in the morning.
The NICE guidelines regard a fasting plasma glucose result of 5.5 to 6.9 mmol/l as putting someone at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, particularly when accompanied by other risk factors for type 2 diabetes.
Read Also: How Hard Is Intermittent Fasting
Glucose Fasting 113 Mg Dl
5 but it’s still high, I should work to get it lower. 1-2 Hrs. Both are normal readings, but I still fear if I am not disciplined towards what I eat and my exercise routine I might get back higher readings. How can i manage my blood Fasting blood sugar level should be less than 100 mg/dL and post-prandial blood sugar level should be less than 140 mg/dL. . I later found out that it is the result of a very low carb diet and that physiological insulin resistance starts as a method to preserve what little glucose A second fasting glucose test will be ordered. Metformin , 24. Negative Pregnancy Adult: 75 to 99 mg/dL or 4. Blood sugar levels 126 mg/dL and above on more than one testing occasion indicate diabetes. The normal fasting blood glucose level is below 100 mg/dl. If the 2-hour blood glucose rises to 200 mg/dL 3 Normal Blood Sugars After Meals 4 What Blood Sugar That means that if your blood sugar was 180 mg/dL or 10 mmol, than a result of 216 mg/dL or 144 mg/dL would still be considered accurate. , Habel, U. T. â¥54 mg/dl *At 3 hours after meal, we normally expect the blood glucose to drop as close to the normal fasting levels test or the A1C test to diagnose diabetes. Just be aware, this is taking into consideration average of all values including both fasting and post-meal. Glucose level 2Continue reading > >
When Things Go Awry
When we eat food, the pancreas goes to work, releasing enzymes that help to break down food and hormones that help the body handle the influx of glucose. One of these hormones is insulin, and it plays a key role in managing glucose levels in the blood.
And here is where things can go wrong. If the pancreas doesnt make enough insulin or stops making it altogether, in the case of type 1 diabetes glucose levels in the blood can rise too high. Another scenario is that the pancreas makes enough insulin but the cells have trouble using it properly, causing blood glucose levels to rise. This is called insulin resistance and is the hallmark of type 2 diabetes.
In the short term, high blood glucose levels can make you feel downright bad. Thirst, frequent trips to the bathroom, fatigue and weight loss are all symptoms of high blood glucose . If not treated, more serious issues can occur, such as diabetic ketoacidosis. Chronic high blood glucose levels can lead to complications such as heart, kidney and eye disease, as well as nerve damage. So, its all about the blood glucose.
Also Check: Which Is Better Intermittent Fasting Or Small Meals
Sleeping Habits And Diabetes
According to research, insomnia affects how well you respond to insulin. People who sleep more than 9 hours each night also tend to have higher rates of diabetes. Sleep apnea can also increase someone’s probability of diabetes. Researchers have discovered that sleep-induced diabetes could raise the risk of other types of diabetes. More than 400 respondents reported how much sleep they get the night before.
Therefore it’s quite important to have a good night’s rest so you have enough strength throughout the day. Below you can find a few tips to create the perfect routine.
