The holiday season is upon us and with it comes many opportunities to overindulge, like the family gatherings, the office parties and other seasonal events.
If you’re watching your weight or if you have diabetes, of course you’ll want to partake in all the festive fun, but you’ll also need to take the necessary precautions to safeguard your health during this time. Glucose meters and blood pressure monitors are tools you can use that will help you to have a happy and healthy holiday season.
Blood glucose meters are small computerized machines that read the sugar levels in your blood. In these meters, your blood glucose level shows up as a number on a screen, similar to that of a calculator. Self-monitoring is an important part of diabetes management because it puts you in charge of your health, giving you an idea of what you should be eating.
If your insurance company doesn’t pay for glucose meters, you’ll want to shop around for the best value. Hospital Overstock offers reduced pricing on both glucose meters and the glucose testing strips, which can help you stretch your healthcare spending budget.
Those with diabetes are accustomed to using these glucose meters regularly before and after meals, and the holidays should be no exception, according to Medicine.net. “The ideal goals, regardless of the season, are fasting values of 80-120 mg/dl before eating and about 140mg/dl 2 hours after eating. Values higher than these indicate that there may be a little too much holiday cheer going on!”
A blood pressure monitor is also a great device for home use as it gives you control of your condition. Monitoring your blood pressure can help you determine if your holiday activities need to be adjusted. Plan in advance for big meals and parties by determining what you might splurge on and what you might skip, and by adding some additional exercise, like a brisk walk, to your routine.
By using available health measurement devices and doing some pre-holiday planning, you’re sure to set yourself up for an enjoyable and healthy holiday season.
What other medical devices have you found to be helpful in maintaining your health goals during the holidays? We’d love to hear from you.
With #Thanksgiving around the corner, here’s how #meddevices can help you stay on track during the #holiday season. http://t.co/rWtJ6YUxOo
— Hospital Overstock (@HospitalSurplus) November 26, 2013
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