In addition to the initial tests that will be taken when you are first diagnosed with diabetes
there will be more that are administered at different times and intervals to make sure you
are staying healthy. Some of these tests you will do your self at home daily while others
will be done during annual or semi-annual trips check-ups at with your doctor.
The test you are going to perform most frequently is testing your blood sugar level. This
is done at home using a glucose monitor. Depending on how new the disease is to you
and how well controlled your blood sugars are you may be testing once per day up to
seven times per day. If you are testing first thing in the morning only, it is a good idea to
test seven times a day at least once per week to monitor your blood sugar levels before
and after each meal and before going to bed.
Testing for ketones in your urine is another daily test that you will do at home. This is
done once per day in the morning after fasting through the night. The presence of
ketones in your urine can signify that you are not eating enough food or that you body is
not processing it properly. A second test should be done in the evening if you find
ketones in the morning. If they are still present at the second test, a call into the doctor is
warranted to prevent the onset of diabetic ketoacidosis.
Your doctor will order a blood test called a Hemoglobin A1C at least once per year. This
test looks at the average blood sugars that have been in your system for the previous three
months. It will give a good overall picture on how well you are managing your diabetes.
