Do You Need to Test Your Blood Sugar Every Day?

Many people living with diabetes are told by their doctors to test their blood sugar levels multiple times daily. This is not only inconvenient and expensive but also unnecessary—especially if you aren’t on insulin and this testing isn’t resulting in changes to your treatment.

For instance, if you aren’t using your readings to adjust your medication dosages or to identify and eliminate problems foods from your diet, then what’s the point?

In fact, two studies published in the esteemed British Medical Journal found that regular self-monitoring of glucose levels was associated with lower quality of life, increased costs, and higher rates of depression. What’s worse is that this obsessive testing did not result in better glycemic control. (For study details, see links above.)

At the Whitaker Wellness Institute, instead of regular self-testing, we monitor our patients’ hemoglobin A1C levels.

Unlike finger-stick glucose tests, A1C reveals an average of blood sugar over the past few months. This test gives us a broader picture and allows us to determine if the diet and supplement regimens we prescribe are working effectively to keep blood sugar under control.

Instead of oral drugs or insulin, we use targeted nutritional supplements and lifestyle modifications (more exercise, fewer carbohydrates, weight loss, etc.) to treat our patients living with diabetes. This natural approach has helped tens of thousands of our patients say good-bye to diabetes and diabetes complications and hello to a healthier, more vital life.