Managing Your Diabetes
Identifying Patterns in Blood Glucose
You may have heard the phrase pattern management before. It refers to watching for patterns in your blood glucose test results. Patterns of similar test results can appear in a number of ways at the same time, day after day—after exercise, on weekends, or at some other time. Pattern management allows you to work with your healthcare team by adjusting your diet, exercise and any medication you are taking to keep you consistently within your target range. It is a valuable tool that you should consider in your diabetes self-management routine.
A key part to making pattern management work for you is your blood glucose meter. Make sure that you are getting all the information you can from it by doing the following:
A key part to making pattern management work for you is your blood glucose meter. Make sure that you are getting all the information you can from it by doing the following:
- Chart your results. You can record your results in a logbook or diary, or you can do it automatically with an interactive software tool. However you decide to log your results, the goal for you and your doctor is the same—to determine if there is a pattern in your highs or lows so you can figure out what it causing them and, more important, how to correct them.
- Use your meter's memory. Most meters are capable of storing up to 500 or more test results, allowing you to log results whenever it is convenient for you. This memory function may also let you view daily and weekly averages, as well as highs and lows, at the touch of a button.
- Know your meter’s features. Meter functions can vary, so it is important to learn all of the options and features that are available on your meter. To find this information, consult your user’s manual or try visiting the meter manufacturer’s Web page. For your Accu-Chek meter, click here.
