Date 25/12/2008

Time 1230 hrs

Glucose Level 7.4 

Remarks After meal

Date 25/12/2008

Time 0730 hrs

Glucose Level 8.2 

Remarks Before meal

Date 25/12/2008

Time 0230 hrs

Glucose Level 9.5 

Remarks Before meal

Date 24/12/2008

Time 1830 hrs

Glucose Level 8.0 

Remarks Before meal

Blood Glucose

A blood glucose test measures the amount of a type of sugar, called glucose, in your blood. Glucose comes from carbohydrate foods. It is the main source of energy used by the body. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body's cells use the glucose. Insulin is produced in the pancreas and released into the blood when the amount of glucose in the blood rises.

Normally, your blood glucose levels increase slightly after you eat. This increase causes your pancreas to release insulin so that your blood glucose levels do not get too high. Blood glucose levels that remain high over time can damage your eyes, kidneys, nerves, and blood vessels.

Blood glucose tests are done to:

• Check for diabetes.
• Monitor treatment of diabetes.
• Check for diabetes that occurs during pregnancy (gestational diabetes).
• Determine if an abnormally low blood sugar level (hypoglycemia) is present. A test to measure blood levels of insulin and a protein called C-peptide may be done along with a blood glucose test to determine the cause of hypoglycemia. For more information, see the medical test C-Peptide.

Amazingly, healthy people without diabetes usually have a tightly controlled level of blood sugar between 6 - 8 mmol/L, no matter how much they eat, or even in elevated stress levels.

This is because the blood glucose is controlled by a complex interaction of multiple chemicals and hormones in the body, including the hormone insulin made in the beta cells of the pancreas.

Mechanism of insulin release in normal pancreatic beta cells. Insulin production is more or less constant within the beta cells, irrespective of blood glucose levels. It is stored within vacuoles pending release, via exocytosis, which is primarily triggered by food, chiefly food containing absorbable glucose. The chief trigger is a rise in blood glucose levels after eating.

My Blood Glucose Levels At A Glance

I am currently using the Optium Medisense.

An advanced diabetes management system, featuring the dual test capability of blood glucose and blood ketones. Medisense starter kit includes: optimum sensor, wallet, user manual, quick reference user guide, lancing device and 10 lancets. Features of this new kit includes: 10 second test time, 1.5microL sample volume, dual fill strip (end and top), 450 test memory with date and time, 7, 14 and 28 day average, download facility, AST capability, powered by 2x AAA alkaline batteries, life time warranty, individual foil wrapped strips, fill 'trigger' electrode minimises the possibility of short sampling, accurate, sample reapplication within 30 seconds, test range 1.1 - 27.8mmol.

It is almost idiot proof but the features are quite basic. Maybe I'll upgrade to a more feature-packed, newer version which can display the history readings beyond one.

I wish too, that there's a backlight to this contraption so that it'll be much cooler to use, besides the obvious convenience.

Got a letter from Dr Tan for the polyclinic medical doctor so that I can buy the test strips at a subsidised price. =)