Self-glucose monitoring Self-glucose monitoring is an important tool for self-management of diabetic patients in the last decade. It is an assessment of one’s own blood glucose level through a simple and portable medical instrument (capillary blood glucose meter). This method is quick, relatively accurate and reliable, and is a good way to help patients keep track of their blood glucose levels in daily life and at work. Its greatest benefit lies in adjusting diet, exercise and medication and judging the efficacy of treatment with blood glucose concentration at any time. It can be used by patients on their own, except for children, the elderly or patients with poor eyesight who should be monitored with the help of family members. The number of blood glucose tests varies from person to person. Type 1 diabetics whose blood glucose is not easily controlled and type 2 diabetics with poor insulin function can have their blood glucose measured 4-8 times a day, usually before and 2 hours after three meals, at bedtime or at 3 o’clock at night, and gradually reduce the number of measurements after the condition stabilizes, usually 4-8 times a week. Self-monitoring of blood pressure Patients with hypertension should monitor their blood pressure daily, and if it is still high, adjust antihypertensive drugs to keep it within the normal range. Lipid monitoring: Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are all measured by serum. Blood should be taken from the forearm after 12 hours of fasting (with a small amount of water); the patient should have 2 weeks to maintain usual dietary habits before blood collection; there should be no recent acute illness, trauma, surgery or other accidents; no alcohol or strenuous exercise within 24 hours before blood collection; it is best to stop taking medications that affect blood lipids (such as lipid regulators, contraceptives, hormones, etc.) for a few days or weeks before blood collection; otherwise, the medication should be recorded. Blood should be taken after 5 minutes in a sitting position, except for bedridden patients. Since there are many factors affecting blood lipids, it is best to measure 2-3 times (1-2 weeks apart) to take the average; if the blood lipids are normal, it is best to retest once in 3-6 months.