There are a number of options for monitoring your blood glucose while in hospital. Responsibility may be with your hospital team, shared with you and your hospital team, or you may wish to self-monitor your blood glucose if you are able to and this has been assessed as appropriate. Decisions about this responsibility, as well as the range and level of your blood glucose, should be discussed and agreed with you in partnership with the hospital and diabetes healthcare teams and recorded in your care plan. If you are self-monitoring your blood glucose (which can also be referred to as SMBG) in hospital:
- you should have access to your own blood glucose monitoring and quality control equipment
- you may be asked to sign a form agreeing to take responsibility for this
- you may also be asked to record your levels on a blood glucose chart.
If you are taught to self-monitor your blood glucose while in hospital, it is essential to discuss why and how to interpret and act upon the results with the diabetes healthcare team. You should also be able to discuss this further with your usual diabetes healthcare team when you are discharged from hospital.
The aim is to achieve blood glucose levels as near as possible to those of a person who does not have diabetes. These are:
- 3.5-5.5mmols/l : before meals
- less than 8mmols/l : 2 hours after meals
However there are many different opinions about the ideal blood glucose level range to aim for if you have diabetes. As this is individual to each person, the target levels must be agreed between you and your diabetes healthcare team. The following blood glucose target ranges provide general guidance:
Adults with Type 1 diabetes (NICE 2004)
- 4-7mmols/l : before meals
- less than 9mmols/l : 2 hours after meals
Adults with Type 2 diabetes (NICE 2008)
- 4-7mmol/l : before meals
- less than 8.5mmols/l : 2 hours after meals