According to Dr. Manjusha Agarwal, Gleneagles Hospital (Mumbai, India), checking blood sugar levels is an important step in managing diabetes. However, many people still make common mistakes, causing inaccurate measurement results and ineffective disease control.
The most common mistake is testing at the wrong time. Checking immediately after meals can give unusually high results. The ideal time is 2 hours after eating to more accurately reflect blood sugar levels, according to indianexpress.
Another mistake was injecting blood at the fingertips, where many nerves were concentrated, easily causing pain. Experts recommend injecting on both sides of your fingers to reduce discomfort. At the same time, not replacing the needle with blood regularly can increase the risk of pain and infection.
In addition, many patients used expired test sticks or stored them incorrectly, causing incorrect results. Patients need to pay attention to checking the expiration date and preserving it according to instructions. Before measuring, wash your hands with soap and water, instead of just using an alcohol-based dry hand sanitizer because it can easily cause dry skin burning.
According to Dr. Narander Singla, CK Birla Hospital (Delhi, India), not checking enough often is also a noteworthy mistake.
Mr. Singla emphasized that to effectively manage diabetes, patients need to be tested regularly, understand how to use a blood glucose meter and record the results so that the doctor has a basis to adjust the regimen.
The habit of skipping meals or only taking blood from a fixed finger should not be maintained. Skipping meals can cause a sudden increase in blood sugar, while injecting multiple times in a painful location and the bottle of the hotel. Experts recommend dividing meals and rotating blood collection locations.
Doctors affirmed that complying with the testing process will help get accurate and useful results for disease management.
In any case of concern, patients need to consult a specialist to limit risks and protect their long-term health.
