Postprandial Glucose Data Is Vital Feedback
Your postprandial blood sugar data can also help you troubleshoot your diabetes management in many different ways.
First and foremost, these measurements give you direct feedback on your diet. If you’re not measuring after meals, you don’t know which foods contribute the most to your high blood sugar levels. And though you already know that foods with lots of added sugars and refined starches should be avoided or limited, you may be surprised to see the effects of the other foods you eat.
Food isn’t the only factor. Your blood sugar levels are also affected by how active you are, your insulin sensitivity, and how quickly food moves through your stomach, says Kumar. For example, regularly checking your levels after meals can help show how powerfully you can tamp down on blood sugar spikes by taking a quick after-dinner walk
or by eating the starchy ingredients on your plate last.
These measurements can be both informative and empowering.
The data can also help your doctors refine your treatment strategies. “By measuring postprandial glucose, we can determine whether dietary modifications or pre-meal bolus insulin are needed to reduce these spikes,” Kumar says.