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Self-monitoring

FAQs: Self-monitoring of blood glucose

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Living with diabetes means staying on top of your blood glucose levels, and self-monitoring is a key part of that. Here are common questions and answers to help you out.

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Why is self-monitoring of blood glucose important?

Blood glucose monitoring shows you the effect of the food you eat, how exercise affects you, and how your medication works. Self-monitoring is essential for anyone with diabetes and can help you:

  • Keep your blood glucose within a healthy range.
  • Fine-tune your meals, medication, or activities.
  • Provide helpful information to your healthcare team.
  • Reduce your risk of other health problems associated with diabetes.

How often should you test my blood glucose?

Your healthcare team will tell you how often and when to check your blood glucose. The frequency needed depends on several factors, such as the type of diabetes you have, the type of medication you are on, your current blood glucose control, etc.

Typically:

Type 1 diabetes: Check before meals, occasionally after meals, before and after exercise, before critical tasks (such as driving), and at bedtime.

Type 2 diabetes: Varies from several times a day to a few times a week, depending on your management plan. Structured blood glucose monitoring is recommended.

Always ask your healthcare provider for personalised advice.

What equipment do I need for self-monitoring?

You’ll need:

  • A blood glucose meter (e.g. Accu-Chek Instant)
  • Test strips
  • A lancing device (e.g. Accu-Chek Softclix) and lancets
  • A logbook or an app (e.g. mySugr) to track your results

What are the target blood glucose ranges?

The general target ranges, as recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), are as follows:

  • Before meals: 4.4 – 7.2 mmol/L
  • Two hours after meals: <10.0 mmol/L

Target ranges, however, differ from person to person and depend on several factors, such as age, duration of diabetes, other comorbid conditions, hypoglycaemia awareness, and the presence of diabetes complications. Your ideal target range is specific to you and will be agreed upon with your healthcare team.

How can you ensure accurate readings?

Here’s how to get the best readings:

  • Store your meter and strips properly.
  • Use test strips before they expire.
  • Make sure that your hands are clean and dry before checking your blood glucose.
  • Follow the instructions for your meter and lancing device.

What are essential tips when checking your blood glucose?

  • Wash and dry your hands. Using warm water may help increase blood flow to your fingertips.
  • You can minimise pain by using a fresh lancet for each test. Today’s lancets are so tiny that even a single use can bend or dull the tips. This can cause them to hurt more when reused. Alternate fingers daily so that each one has a chance to rest.
  • Lance on the side of the fingertip rather than the pad. The pad of your fingertip (where your fingerprints are most visible) is one of the most sensitive parts of your body.
  • Record the results in a logbook or use a diabetes management app like mySugr to review and analyse them later.
  • Based on your healthcare professional’s recommendations, take the appropriate steps if your blood glucose is high or low.

Self-monitoring your blood glucose is vital for managing diabetes. By understanding and integrating it into your daily routine, you can take control of your health and improve your life. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider.

Remember, you don’t have to manage diabetes on your own. There are plenty of resources available to help you stay on track.

References

  1. Bailey TS, Grunberger G, Bode BW, Hirsch IB, Roberts VL, Rodbard D. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American College of Endocrinology 2016 Outpatient Glucose Monitoring Consensus Statement. Endocrine practice. 2016;22(2):231-261.
  2. American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee; 7. Diabetes Technology: Standards of Care in Diabetes—2025. Diabetes Care 1 January 2025; 48 (Supplement_1): S146–S166.
  3. American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee; 6. Glycemic Goals and Hypoglycemia: Standards of Care in Diabetes—2025. Diabetes Care 1 January 2025; 48 (Supplement_1): S128–S145.

Download the mySugr app now!

You can download the mySugr app in the Google Play store or the App Store.

 

 

To check if your mobile device is compatible with the mySugr app, please contact our customer support team.

For any questions related to your diabetes management, kindly reach out to your healthcare provider. Should you have any queries about our products, please get in touch with our customer support centre at info@accu-chek.co.za. Country-specific contact numbers can also be found in the information below.

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Join the conversation @RocheDiabetesCareSSA

Visit the website www.rochediabetescaremea.com for more information on our products and diabetes management tips.

Email: info@accu-chek.co.za | Toll Free: 080-34-22-38-37 (South Africa only) | +254 20 523 0560 (Kenya only) | +234-1227-8889 (Nigeria only) | +27 (11) 504 4677 (Other countries)

ACCU-CHEK, ACCU-CHEK INSTANT and MYSUGR are trademarks of Roche. All other product names and trademarks are property of their respective owners. | © 2025 Roche Diabetes Care | Roche Diabetes Care South Africa (Pty) Ltd. | Hertford Office Park, Building E | No 90 Bekker Road | Midrand, 1686, South Africa. ZA-534

Information provided is void of any representation and warranty as to the reliability, accuracy, usefulness, adequacy, or suitability of the information provided and is not a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment for medical conditions, applications of medication. For personalised medical advice, consult an appropriate medical professional for queries regarding any medical conditions.

The merits of good diabetic nutrition

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We learn about the six must-have foods for good diabetic nutrition and when to add a nutritional supplement to fill any nutrient gaps.

Listen to this article below or wherever you get your podcasts.
Visit our channel mypod.zone/diabetessa

Defining good diabetic nutrition

As a person living with diabetes, you may feel overwhelmed with all the things you need to do to manage your health. Good nutrition can assist to manage symptoms of diabetes that you may experience, such as weight loss, feeling very hungry and tired, sores that heal slowly, and having more infections than usual.1

Nutrition is also an important part of a healthy lifestyle to help keep your blood glucose level in your target range. Nutrient requirements for people living with diabetes are likely to be higher than those set for people who don’t have diabetes. This is due to the following:

  • People with diabetes are prone to deficiencies in magnesium and zinc.2,3.
  • Some medications used to treat diabetes can result in increased nutrient requirements.2,3.
  • Nutrition therapy is critical in the management of diabetes to ensure the maintenance of correct blood glucose levels.2,3.

Eating healthy foods in the right amounts at the right times so your blood glucose stays in your target range as much as possible is key. It’s also important to eat foods that helps prevent diabetes complications like heart disease.

Figuring out the best foods to eat when you have diabetes doesn’t have to be tough and you can also include a nutritional supplement to make sure you’re filling any nutrient gaps.

Some of the best foods for people with diabetes are high in protein and low in sugar like avocados (consume in moderation) and grilled fatty fish.

The must-have super six

The following foods can help manage your blood glucose levels:

  1. Fatty fish like salmon and sardines are great sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which have major benefits for heart health.
  2. Leafy greens are low in digestible carbs.
  3. Avocados have less than a gram of sugar, few carbohydrates, a high fibre content and healthy fats.
  4. Chai seeds are extremely high in fibre which reduces hunger. They are also low in digestible carbs.
  5. Beans are rich in B vitamins, beneficial minerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium) and fibre.
  6. Broccoli contains only 3g of digestible carbs.4

Adding a nutritional supplement

If you’re considering using any supplements if you have diabetes, it’s important to get nutritional advice from your healthcare professional prior to using anything.

More than likely, once you have gotten the go-ahead from your healthcare professional, you may choose a nutritional supplement on the merit of the scientific facts of the product as well as what others have to say about it.

For this reason, here are all the beneficial facts of adding LIFEGAIN® Advanced Nutritional Supplement to your diet as well as patient testimonials.

LIFEGAIN® Advanced Nutritional Supplement is scientifically formulated to offer beyond everyday nutrition that can support chronic illness. The Triple Protein Formula in LIFEGAIN® can help you to feel fuller for longer and assist with recovery of muscle tissue and a healthy weight.

The Lifegain® formula:

  • High in energy, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids.
  • 24 minerals and vitamins, several being key for immune support.
  • High in iron and zinc.
  • Contains fibre.
  • Trans fat-, gluten-, lactose-, and cholesterol-free.
  • Low in carbs (no refined carbs).
  • No added sugar.

Patient testimonials

Monique Mentoor

(On behalf of her dad)

My dad’s health was deteriorating fast in October 2019. He is a diabetic and hypertension sufferer and has had two transient ischaemic attacks due to not managing these illnesses. He was constantly tired, and his quality of life was so poor as he was sleeping all the time. I insisted he come live with me and offered only nutritious meals and added LIFEGAIN® Advanced Nutrition Supplement to his diet – and I believe this was the perfect compliment.

Within weeks there was a noticeable difference in his health and the lethargy was improving too. Throughout the lockdown my dad continued taking his LIFEGAIN® Advanced Nutrition Supplement and he has not looked or felt better in years. ​

Tebogo Maesela

(Caregiver of his father who has diabetes)

I love Lifegain® Advanced Nutrition Supplement vanilla flavour. I currently use Lifegain® to boost my body and support my immune system.

My father is a diabetic patient, and he uses Lifegain® to boost his immune system. My journey with Lifegain® started two years back when my father was very sick, he was losing weight and he couldn’t eat anything. At that moment we thought that we were losing him. His body was small and frail. Then a family friend suggested that we buy Lifegain® supplement for my father. We did, and he started to eat again, and regained energy. Since that day Lifegain® has been our supplement.

References

  1. Diabetes Symptoms.2022 Dec 30. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/symptoms.html
  2. Walker, A.F., 2007. Potential micronutrient deficiency lacks recognition in diabetes.
  3. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/diet-eating-physical-activity. Accessed: 05/08/2020.
  4. Kelly E. Diet for People Living with Diabetes: The Best Foods to Choose and More. 2023 Feb 23. Healthline.com Available from: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/16-best-foods-for-diabetics      
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