Tools for Life Introduction to patterns Insulin Food Activity Tools for Life. Questions? 1-800-227-8862 OneTouch.com 2011 LifeScan, Inc. Milpitas, CA 95035 11/11 AW 3085039B
3 YOU + Congratulations for taking an important step in diabetes control. Managing blood sugar patterns is an effective way to help achieve better control. This booklet will help you get started. You ll learn about blood sugar patterns and how to manage them. Moreover, you ll see how your new OneTouch Verio IQ Meter and Pattern Guide help make it all easier. + Your OneTouch Verio IQ Meter and Pattern Guide work together to help you manage your blood sugar patterns, so you can live your life to the fullest. 3
What is a blood sugar pattern? Let s say your blood sugar is usually high before you eat dinner. You may not be aware of this pattern because you re in the habit of responding to a high (or low) test result with an on-the-spot adjustment. Or you may think that making immediate adjustments every day is the only way to handle the situation. But diabetes experts agree that a better approach is to find the cause of the pattern and make a change to your self-care plan to resolve it. The goal is to achieve your glucose targets more often and improve your overall blood sugar control. A pattern is when your blood sugar is consistently higher or lower than your target range at specific times of day. The most common reasons for patterns of high or low blood sugar are insulin doses, food choices (usually the amount of carbohydrates), or activity. Less common reasons include stress, illness, weight changes, and improper insulin storage. 5
How the OneTouch Verio IQ Meter identifies patterns. While you re testing as usual, your new meter is recording all your blood sugar results and searching for high and low glucose patterns. > A High Pattern message appears when your meter records 3 high results tagged Before meal, within 5 days, from the same time of day. > A Low Pattern message appears when your meter records 2 low results, within 5 days, from the same time of day. On-screen alerts take the detective work out of looking for patterns in your logbook. Here is an example of the on-screen notifications you may receive if you are experiencing a low pattern. Your OneTouch Verio IQ Meter comes preset with a before-meal high limit of 130 mg/dl and a low limit of 70 mg/dl. However, these high and low limits can be customized with the guidance of your healthcare professional. Apr 12 10:45 am mg/dl Low Pattern View Later Menu Low Pattern Apr 12 10:45 am Looks like your glucose has been running LOW around this time. Get Details Low Details mg/dl Apr 12 10:45 am 65 Apr 10 11:45 am 60 Menu 6
How do you manage patterns? think Something in your daily routine is causing the pattern. What is it? Connect your pattern with its cause in 3 simple steps. Both your Pattern Guide and logbook are helpful tools. act Use your Pattern Guide to identify possible causes and solutions.* Write the action you take in your logbook. Your OneTouch Verio IQ Pattern Guide helps make it fast and easy to zero in on possible causes of high and low patterns and potential actions to resolve them. check Once you take action, keep an eye on your results to make sure the pattern is resolved, revisiting your Pattern Guide and logbook as needed. *Consult your healthcare professional for actions that are right for you. 9
How your OneTouch Verio IQ Pattern Guide helps you resolve patterns. This handy guide was created to help you think about what s causing a pattern and what action you may take to resolve it. The two-sided pull-tab design gives you quick access to a list of causes and actions related to food, activity, and insulin. Check it out! IMPORTANT TIPS Always treat low blood sugar when it occurs. Low patterns should always be resolved before high patterns. Address one pattern at a time. Making it easy to spot possible causes of high and low patterns and potential solutions helps simplify managing patterns. Keep the guide with your meter, so it s right there when you need it.
Tools for Life OneTouch Verio IQ Pattern Guide Insulin Food Activity low pattern Before breakfast After breakfast glunch After lunch gdinner After dinner governight
Consult your healthcare professional for actions that are right for you. Possible cause Potential action Too much intermediate- or long-acting insulin before bed. Bedtime snacks forgotten or didn t include enough carbohydrates. Alcohol with dinners or later. Long periods of increased activity. Always treat low blood glucose when it occurs. May need to reduce dose. Bedtime snacks should include enough carbohydrates and protein. Always eat enough carbohydrates if you drink alcohol. May need to add bedtime carbohydrate snack. LOWs before breakfast
Consult your healthcare professional for actions that are right for you. Possible cause Too much short-acting insulin before breakfasts. Breakfasts skipped or did not include enough carbohydrates. Early breakfasts and/or late lunches. Increased morning activity. Always treat low blood glucose when it occurs. Potential action May need to reduce dose. Plan consistent meals with enough carbohydrates and protein. Aim for consistent mealtimes or add mid-morning snack. May need to reduce breakfast short-acting insulin dose or have extra carbohydrate snack. LOWs after breakfastglunch
Consult your healthcare professional for actions that are right for you. Possible cause Too much short-acting insulin before lunches. Too much intermediate insulin (N, NPH) taken before breakfast. Lunches skipped or did not include enough carbohydrates. Early lunches and/or late dinners. Very active afternoons. Potential action May need to reduce dose. May need to reduce dose. Plan consistent meals with enough carbohydrates. Aim for consistent mealtimes or add mid-afternoon carbohydrate snack. May need to reduce short-acting insulin dose before lunch or have extra carbohydrate snack. LOWs after lunchgdinner Always treat low blood glucose when it occurs.
Consult your healthcare professional for actions that are right for you. Possible cause Too much short-acting insulin before dinners. Too much intermediate- or long-acting insulin or taken too early. Dinners skipped or did not include enough carbohydrates. Extra evening activity, or alcohol with dinners or later. Always treat low blood glucose when it occurs. Potential action May need to reduce dose. Test at 3 a.m. If result is low, may need to decrease overnight insulin dose. Plan consistent meals with enough carbohydrates. May need to reduce dinner insulin dose or eat carbohydrate snack before activity or if you drink alcohol. LOWs after dinnergovernight
Tools for Life OneTouch Verio IQ Pattern Guide Insulin Food Activity HIGH pattern Before breakfast Before lunch Before dinner Important tips
Consult your healthcare professional for actions that are right for you. Possible cause Potential action Too little short-acting insulin before dinners. Too little intermediate- or long-acting insulin before bed. Rebound high from too much intermediate- or long-acting insulin before bed. Late dinners or snacking at night. Less activity than usual. May need to increase insulin dose. Test at 3 a.m. If result is not low, may need to increase insulin dose. Test at 3 a.m. If result is low, may need to reduce overnight insulin dose. May need to eat earlier or reduce after-dinner snacks. Regular physical activity. HIGHs BEFORE breakfast Stress and illness can also contribute to high blood glucose.
Consult your healthcare professional for actions that are right for you. Possible cause Potential action Too little short-acting insulin before breakfasts. High-carbohydrate breakfasts. Late breakfasts. Mid-morning snacks too big or unnecessary. Less activity than usual. May need to increase dose. May need to reduce carbohydrates or increase before-breakfast short-acting insulin dose. Aim for consistent mealtimes. May need to reduce carbohydrates in snack or eliminate entirely. Regular physical activity. HIGHs Before lunch Stress and illness can also contribute to high blood glucose.
Consult your healthcare professional for actions that are right for you. Possible cause Too little short-acting insulin before lunches. Too little intermediate insulin (N, NPH) taken before breakfast. High-carbohydrate lunches. Late lunches. Mid-afternoon snacks too big or unnecessary. Less activity than usual. Potential action May need to increase dose. May need to increase dose. May need to reduce carbohydrates or increase before-lunch short-acting insulin dose. Aim for consistent mealtimes. May need to reduce carbohydrates in snacks or eliminate entirely. Regular physical activity. HIGHs BEFORE dinner Stress and illness can also contribute to high blood glucose.
Important tips Always treat low blood sugar when it occurs. Low patterns should always be resolved before high patterns. Address one pattern at a time. Your OneTouch Verio IQ Meter comes with these preset limits: Low (anytime) High (before meal) 70 mg/dl 130 mg/dl You can personalize the limits for detecting patterns. For directions, see Chapter 1 of your Owner s Booklet. Consult your healthcare professional for limits that are right for you. 2011 LifeScan, Inc. Milpitas, CA 95035 9/11 AW 3085040A important tips