Blood Glucose
Manage Your Levels
Why?
Glucose from food is carried by the blood to the body’s cells, where it is used for energy. Insulin helps glucose get into the cells.
With diabetes, glucose may remain in the blood. Over time, high blood glucose build-up can harden and block blood vessels, leading to heart disease and stroke.
Some people’s blood glucose levels are higher than normal but below the level at which diabetes is diagnosed. Because type 2 diabetes often follows within 10 years, the condition is known as prediabetes and carries increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Approximately six million people in Canada have prediabetes.
The good news is that making healthy lifestyle choices can reduce your risk and help you to avoid or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
You and your healthcare team should set your blood glucose level goals. A healthy eating plan, active lifestyle, and - in many cases – medication, can help keep blood glucose levels within the target range. See Managing your blood glucose levels for more information about target ranges.
Test your blood glucose regularly
Talk to your healthcare team about using a blood glucose meter to keep track of levels.
Note: Your province or territory may subsidize the cost of blood glucose monitoring supplies. Contact your local Canadian Diabetes Association branch to find out if this applies to you.