JUST diagnosed

A diagnosis of diabetes can be scary at first - don't panic, we're here to help

- KAREN FITTALL

DIABETES 101

Still getting your head around your diagnosis? These questions might sound familiar...

When should I test my blood glucose levels (BGLs)?

This depends on the type of diabetes you have and what - if any – medication you're using, but possible times include before meals, two hours after eating, before bed, before exercise and if you're feeling unwell.

What should my BGLs be?

This also depends on a range of factors, but as a guide, if you have type 1 diabetes, 1 targets to aim for are 4-8 millimoles of glucose per litre of blood (mmol/L) before meals and <10mmol/L two hours after starting a meal. If you have type 2, target levels are 6-8mmol/L before meals and 6-10mmol/L two hours after starting meals.

What's HbA1c?

It's your average BGLS over a period of 10-12 weeks and, alongside the blood glucose monitoring you do yourself, paints a picture of your blood glucose management.

What's a hypo?

It's when BGLs drop below 4mmol/L, which makes it hard to concentrate and needs to be treated quickly using specific foods. Hypos only occur in people using insulin or taking some types of glucose-lowering tablets to manage their diabetes.

Will I have to use insulin?