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Pharmacy Care provides information about self-care, that is how to treat minor medical conditions with products available at the pharmacy. Find out how your pharmacist can help you to manage minor conditions yourself.
Blood glucose testing measures the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood. Glucose comes from the carbohydrates we eat, and is present in our blood as an energy source. For your body to function normally, blood glucose levels need to be within a certain range; this is controlled by a hormone called insulin.
Some people do not make enough insulin or do not respond fully to the insulin their body makes, which causes their blood sugar levels to be too high (hyperglycaemia). Blood glucose testing, available from your doctor and some pharmacies (or can also be done at home), is one of the most common screening tests used for diabetes.
Diabetes is characterised by persistent hyperglycaemia which is bad for long-term health (see long-term complications of diabetes, below). There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and diabetes in pregnancy (gestational diabetes).
People who do not make any insulin, or very little, have type 1 diabetes. It generally develops before the age of 40.
People with type 1 diabetes need to inject insulin and must monitor their blood glucose levels regularly. The cause of type 1 diabetes is not fully understood.
Type 2 diabetes develops when your body stops producing enough insulin (insulin deficiency). It can also develop when your body becomes less responsive to the insulin your body does make (insulin resistance). Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and often affects people later in life.
Some people with type 2 diabetes can control their blood glucose levels through altering their diet and losing weight. Many people will need to take oral medications to treat type 2 diabetes, and some people will need insulin injections.
You are more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes if you:
Gestational diabetes happens when a pregnant woman cannot produce enough insulin to cope with her body’s increased needs during pregnancy. It affects around 4 to 8% of pregnant women, with an increased risk in women over 30 and with diabetes in the family.
Gestational diabetes can sometimes be controlled by dietary changes, but some women need insulin injections. Women should be routinely checked for gestational diabetes in the second trimester. Gestational diabetes should resolve itself after the pregnancy but there is an increased risk of developing diabetes in the future.
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes are often severe and generally lead to a quick diagnosis. However, people with type 2 diabetes generally have milder or no symptoms. Many will be undiagnosed and not realise they have this condition.
If diabetes is not treated, people are at risk of developing complications from having too much sugar in their blood. This is why some people may want to have their blood glucose levels checked, particularly if they have risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes.
When sugar levels remain high in the blood for a long period of time, damage to all the blood vessels in the body occurs. Long-term complications include:
These problems usually only show up in people who have had diabetes for a few years, and can be reduced by keeping blood glucose levels and blood pressure in a healthy a range.
Diabetes is a condition that must be diagnosed and treated by your doctor. However, many pharmacies offer a blood glucose testing service to screen for diabetes.
Advice for people having a blood glucose test at their pharmacy:
If you have a high blood glucose test result this does not necessarily mean you have diabetes, and you should see your doctor for further tests.
Other medical problems that can cause high blood glucose levels include severe stress and some medications.
For more information about diabetes, see the link in Related Health Information below.
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Last Reviewed: 25 September 2009
