Can managing diabetes become easier through self-monitoring?

Some of my colleagues proudly state that they live a normal life, despite being diagnosed with diabetes. I see that they do everything what I do – at times even more. On the other hand, I have encountered instances where people close to me had to be hospitalized for kidney-related and other ailments, on account of diabetes. This has left me wondering why there is a distinction in outcomes when the health condition across both sections of people relate to blood sugar levels not being within a normal range.

So, what do people with diabetes do, to be able to live like any one of us despite the effects of diabetes in day-to-day living? You may have heard people advising diabetics - “do not eat sweets”, “go for regular check-ups”, “check your eyesight and kidney functioning”, etc. The to-do list is long and even longer is the not-to-do list.

Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is an important and integral component of modern therapy for diabetes. SMBG is recommended for people with diabetes to achieve a target level of glycemic control and thus achieve their HbA1c (also known as glycated haemoglobin or A1C) target. HbA1c test gives you a picture of your average blood glucose control of the past three months.

The goal of self-monitoring of blood glucose is to collect detailed information about blood glucose levels at many time points to enable maintenance of a more constant glucose level by more precise regimens. By self-monitoring blood glucose, one can measure how the body handles different types of food, exercise, medication, stress and illness. Your blood glucose result may prompt you to eat a snack, take more insulin or go for a walk. Self-monitoring can also alert you to a blood glucose level that is too high or too low, which requires special treatment.

The results of self-monitoring can help guide the patient with diabetes as well as the healthcare professional to adjust the many different parts of therapeutic interventions, thus saving on treatment costs. Given the enormity and proportion of diabetes in India, it is important for corporates like us to advance understanding and increase awareness and support for better diabetes management in our country.  

By managing blood glucose accurately and regularly, one also reduces the risk of developing complications related to the eye, kidney and nerve damage, foot problems, and even stroke. Fewer complications means more time for you to enjoy your everyday life!

Our Accu-chek brand ambassador, the ace cricketer, Wasim Akram is a very good living example of how you can live a normal life despite having diabetes, and also excel in a sport like cricket. In his words, “I was diagnosed with diabetes when I was  30 years old. I was at the peak of my professional cricket career, there was no family history of diabetes, and I was as healthy as I could be. You can imagine how disturbed I must have been when my doctor diagnosed me with diabetes. He took the time to explain to me that diabetes is not a disease but a metabolic disorder, and that if managed properly, I can very much lead a normal life. That is why, in addition to diet, lifestyle and medications (including insulin), he also prescribed regular self-monitoring.”

With self-monitoring, Wasim could check periodically if his blood glucose was in control. Together with his doctor, he could modify his activities and dosage in a real-time manner. “Since being diagnosed with diabetes, I have taken 250 wickets. I have had a successful cricketing career and today, I lead a happy life with my wife and kids,” glows Wasim.

Going beyond living a normal life, reduced complications mean lesser chances of hospitalization, which draws on your savings and earning time and potential. With Indian economy reliant extensively on human capital, diabetes incidence proves a serious threat to our growth as a country. India now carries 20 per cent of the global burden of diabetes, with 65 million estimated to be living with diabetes. A research shows that only 49 per cent of people with diabetes are diagnosed, which means that this number could be higher. While the prevalence of diabetes in India is second largest in the world, the economic burden due to diabetes is among the highest in the world. Studies estimate that, for a low income Indian family with an adult diagnosed with diabetes, as much as 25 per cent of family income may be devoted to diabetes care.

Clearly, there is an urgent need to intervene. It is well established that a cluster of major risk factors such as inappropriate diet, physical inactivity, obesity, tobacco and alcohol govern the occurrence of diabetes and heart disorders. With diabetes already at such epidemic proportions, prevention, detection and early intervention become essential elements in effective diabetes management. A key element to diabetes management is regular monitoring of blood glucose levels. This is made convenient through self-monitoring, which gives in your hands the controls to a healthy, happy life!

To get accurate test results on blood glucose monitoring systems, one must keep in mind:

• The quality of the meter
• The quality of the test strips
• How well is the performance of the test. (One should wash and dry the hands before testing and closely follow the instructions for operating your meter).
• If one is severely dehydrated or anemic, the test results may be less accurate.
• Interfering substances (some substances, such as Vitamin C, Tylenol, and uric acid, may interfere with your glucose testing). Check the instructions for the meter and test strips to find out what substances may affect the testing accuracy.
• Altitude, temperature, and humidity (high altitude, low and high temperatures, and humidity can cause unpredictable effects on glucose results).
• Storage (it is important to store test strip vials closed).