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  • With Mayo Clinic diabetes educators

    Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.

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  • Living with diabetes blog

  • Feb. 10, 2009

    Overcoming barriers to self-monitoring of blood glucose

    By Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.

38 comments posted

Monitoring your blood glucose is an important part of effective diabetes management. It is especially important for people who take insulin. Many people find that it is difficult to make blood glucose monitoring a routine part of their lives. So, if you are struggling with checking your blood glucose as recommended by your healthcare provider, you are not alone.

An American Diabetes Association survey found that "21 percent of adults with type 1 diabetes never checked their blood glucose. Of those with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes, 47 percent never monitored, and among those with type 2 diabetes who were not using insulin, 76 percent never checked.''

William Polonsky, in his book "Diabetes Burnout," lists the top 10 reasons to hate checking your blood glucose. They are as follows:

  1. Your meter makes you feel bad about yourself.
  2. Monitoring seems pointless (because you believe there is nothing you can really do about your blood glucose results anyway).
  3. Checking your blood glucose reminds you that you have diabetes, which is something you'd probably rather not think about too much.
  4. Your meter seems to control your life, telling you what you can and cannot do.
  5. Monitoring serves as an opportunity for your friends and family to bother you.
  6. None of your health care providers ever do anything with the results anyway.
  7. Checking blood glucose sometimes hurts.
  8. Monitoring can be inconvenient.
  9. Monitoring can be expensive.
  10. Life is too busy and demanding to take the time for regular monitoring.

What are your personal barriers?  If you know what your personal barriers to checking your blood glucose regularly are, there are things that you can do to overcome them. Some general tips:

  • Glucose readings are just numbers. They are not judgments of your ability to manage your diabetes. Think of your test results as a check — not a test. Blood glucose testing is a tool that you can use to evaluate the effectiveness of your diabetes care plan. Results can be used by you and your healthcare provider to adjust your treatment if needed. Also remember that no matter how hard you have been trying to manage your diabetes, there will be times that your glucose levels are not in your target range.
  • Be realistic. Work with your healthcare provider to determine your blood glucose goals.
  • Use your knowledge to manage your diabetes from day to day. Work with your healthcare provider to fine-tune your diabetes care plan by adjusting your meal plan, activity level, and/or your medication to help meet your blood glucose goals.

We look forward to hearing from you. Please share your experiences with glucose monitoring. Do you find it hard to make glucose monitoring a routine part of your life?

- Peggy

38 comments posted

blog index

  • February 19, 2009 5:50 p.m.

    I "solved" one my challenges to glucose monitoring by putting glucose monitors in various parts of the house, so I never had an excuse of not having a monitor handy. One in my purse, one in the kitchen, one in the bedroom. I also keep fast-acting insulin pens in these locations. It was such a simple change, but has had a major effect because now it is almost always "convenient" to test and dose.

    - JO

  • February 19, 2009 3:38 p.m.

    Do you respond to email?

    - No name given

  • February 19, 2009 12:23 p.m.

    Sorry, forgot to sign our names. Nancy and Peggy

    - No name given

  • February 19, 2009 12:20 p.m.

    We could not find the specific ADA survey, but have read several studies that the 21% figure is about right. Some more recent studies indicate that self blood glucose monitoring adherence has improved in the past decade. In an article in the American Journal of Medicine, it states that “adherence with the recommended frequency of self-monitoring was more common among patients with type 1 diabetes (34%) or insulin-treated type 2 diabetes (54%) than among patients with oral agent only treated type 2 diabetics (20%).” This study found that more frequent self-monitoring of blood glucose improves glycemic control regardless of diabetes type or therapy. Karter, A.J., Ackerson, L.M., Darbinian, J.A., et al, Self-monitoring of blood glucose levels and glycemic control: The northern California Kaiser Permanente Diabetes Registr, American Journal of Medicine, 2001, vol. 111:1-9.

    - No name given

  • February 18, 2009 10:12 a.m.

    does anyone know where I can find a report on this ADA survey?

    - Amy

  • February 18, 2009 7:14 a.m.

    I have had type 1 diabetes for 53 years, I keep my weight under good control, blood readings do very a lot I test 5 times a day, take short acting and long acting insulin, I've just learned to take care of myself, it's really not that bad, just hang on diabetics, life could be a lot worse.

    - Ella

  • February 14, 2009 10:19 p.m.

    I was overweight and depressed for years until I came across this amazing program called fit4lyfe.It completely changed my lifew hile maintaining who I was. It takes into consideration that a dieter and person who works out needs a life and has a life,maybe kidss too, and for me I hated working out. This program is a personalized one on one approach to successfully eating and working your way to losing weight and feeling great! check it out www.fit4lyfe.webs.com

    - marisa

  • February 12, 2009 9:46 a.m.

    Sorry, I forgot to put my name to my posting.

    - Mike

  • February 12, 2009 9:42 a.m.

    Tom, firstly worrying is going to be Detrimental to your glucose levels. I have type 1 diabetes 50 years. I do up to 10 tests per day. I think if your HbA1c is reasonable then you are doing well. I know my bgs tend to be like yours, up and down all day, but my doctor tells me as long as the HbAic is ok then not to worry about it. Even non diabetics have varying bg levels each day. Woohoo, I'm off to Italy for a cycling holiday in September.

    - No name given

  • February 11, 2009 1:18 p.m.

    Itest morning fasting, then before lunch, before dinner and 2 hr in evening...short-acting insulin before meals per sliding scale, Regular at bedtime. Most of the time blood sugar is well controlled, even though I don't follow a meal plan, other than ignore most white foods(except potatoes, my weakness). Blood sugar stays in good control on this plan and it's easy to follow. AlC is good on this plan, according to doctor. I also take cinnamon caps morning and evening and this seems to help a great deal. Anyone else tried this? Lois R.

    - Lois

  • February 11, 2009 1:37 a.m.

    I test my bg at least 7 times a day. Take insulin to cover my carbs and take a small amount of long lasting insulin. Testing is no problem. Wish I could afford to test more often. Would love to have a A1C lower than 6 all the time. Have been a Type 1 32 years.

    - Linfa F.

  • February 10, 2009 8:00 p.m.

    sometimes my numbers vary a lot.i worry and get upset.i'm told not to worry and don't get upset.i have to ask-why take it at all ?i just don't understand.i try to take a positive attitude.i just don't care.i've learned not to believe anything about diabetes.

    - tom kosky

  • February 10, 2009 3:36 p.m.

    Great post! I love the top 10. If you haven't already, check out the 30 second public service announcement with Jean Smart advocating diabetes awareness. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyK3JZ46s20

    - Erik

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