Why should I record and analyse my blood glucose levels?

Keeping a record of blood glucose readings is crucial for a personalised treatment plan and helps to prevent long-term complications. A solid data set provides the best foundation for adjusting your insulin dose, recognising hypoglycaemia in good time and keeping track of your treatment progress. Your documentation is the background for the physician and the diabetes team to adjust the diabetes therapy, stores information regarding certain special situations and helps to recognize intra-daily fluctuations. Keep your documentation regularly and correctly.  Regular measurements and recording your readings enable you to organise your daily life as you wish and to tailor your treatment accordingly.

As every glucose value represents just a snapshot it is useful to create a daily profile for several results per day. It is important to document your values. You can choose to use a diabetes data management app, or you can also write down test results in a printed diary.

Modern technology supports you in managing your diabetes. Suitable software helps you to keep an accurate record of your treatment. Data management systems are available for most blood glucose monitors. You can use a diabetes management app or analyse your data using a desktop or online version of a diabetes diary (e.g. Wellion SiDiary).

Some metres have Bluetooth to synchronise data with the data management app. If this is not the case, special cables can be used to download the data from your blood glucose meter so that you can then analyse it on your PC. You will need the USB data transfer cable and a driver compatible with your meter and your version of Windows. (The data cannot be transferred using just any USB cable! Please follow the instructions provided by your meter’s manufacturer.)

Using a data management system gives you a better insight into your metabolism and makes managing your diabetes easier.