Why tracking is important

We assume that as someone with diabetes, you know how important it is to monitor your insulin needs. Many considerations impact when you need to take your insulin, including carbohydrate intake, your level of activity and other factors such as stress or illness.

Tracking glucose levels has always been important in effectively managing diabetes. Over the past 20 years, this has been made easier with the advent of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and flash glucose monitors (FGM), which uses sensors to continuously measure your glucose levels.

Tracking your glucose levels – either with a blood glucose monitor (BGM) or a CGM or FGM – allows you to make decisions about any adjustment to your insulin dosing straightaway. The data gathered over a period of time also allows you and your diabetes team to assess trends, triggers and the amount of time you spend in or outside of your glycaemic targets.

By tracking your insulin at the same time as your glucose levels, you will be able to compare the amount and timing of your insulin dosing with your glucose data. All of this data can be recorded at any time of the day or night, and during your various activities. Having this information at your disposal, holds many benefits, as you and your diabetes team can:

• see what impact the insulin dose you have taken has on your glucose level
• see the changes you may need to make to your insulin dosing
  
• adjust your future dosing requirements to avoid over- or under correction 
  
• ultimately optimise your insulin doses to fit in with your lifestyle

You are the most important individual in your diabetes care team, but you are not alone. When the doctor and / or nurse who make up your diabetes care team has access to your glucose measurements and insulin dosing, they can support you in making more informed decisions on how to best manage your glucose levels.

Regular tracking of glucose levels and insulin dosing can provide insights into the relationship between your insulin dosing habits and your glucose levels over time. This in turn helps you and your diabetes care team to understand the impact insulin doses (both in timing and amount) have on your glucose levels and glycaemic control. It will also allow your diabetes team to develop a tailored treatment plan that ensures you spend as much time as possible within your optimal glycaemic range, which is usually 20-53 mmol/mol [4-7mmol/L] – your doctor would help determine your optimal range.