Tools for Life™

Introduction to patternsInsulin • Food • Activity

© 2011 LifeScan, Inc. Milpitas, CA 95035 11/11 AW 3085039B

Questions? 1-800-227-8862

OneTouch.com

Tools for Life.™

3

Congratulations for taking an

important step in diabetes control.

Managing blood sugar patterns

is an eff ective way to help achieve

better control.

This booklet will help you get

started. You’ll learn about blood

sugar patterns and how to manage

them. Moreover, you’ll see how your

new OneTouch® Verio™IQ Meter and

Pattern Guide help make it all easier.

+

YOU

Your OneTouch® Verio™IQ Meter and

Pattern Guide work together to help you

manage your blood sugar patterns, so

you can live your life to the fullest.

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+

What is a blood sugar pattern?

A pattern is when your blood sugar is consistently higher or lower than your target range at specific times of day.

Let’s say your blood sugar is usually high

before you eat dinner. You may not be aware

of this pattern because you’re in the habit of

responding to a high (or low) test result with

an on-the-spot adjustment. Or you may think

that making immediate adjustments every

day is the only way to handle the situation.

But diabetes experts agree that a better

approach is to find the cause of the pattern

and make a change to your self-care plan

to resolve it. The goal is to achieve your

glucose targets more often and improve

your overall blood sugar control.

The most common reasons for patterns

of high or low blood sugar are insulin

doses, food choices (usually the amount

of carbohydrates), or activity. Less common

reasons include stress, illness, weight

changes, and improper insulin storage.

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On-screen alerts take the detective work out of looking for patterns in your logbook. Here is an example of the on-screen notifi cations you may receive if you are experiencing a low pattern.

Apr 12 10:45 am

Get Details

Low Pattern

Looks like yourglucose has been

running LOWaround this time.

Menu

Apr 12 10:45 am

mg/dL

Later

Low PatternView

mg/dLLow Details

Apr 1210:45 amApr 1011:45 am 60

65

Menu

How the OneTouch® Verio™IQ Meter identifi es patterns.

While you’re testing as usual, your

new meter is recording all your blood

sugar results—and searching for

high and low glucose patterns.

> A High Pattern message appears

when your meter records 3 high

results tagged “Before meal,” within

5 days, from the same time of day.

> A Low Pattern message appears when

your meter records 2 low results, within

5 days, from the same time of day.

Your OneTouch® Verio™IQ Meter comes preset with a before-meal high limit of 130 mg/dL and a low limit of 70 mg/dL. However, these high and low limits can be customized with the guidance of your healthcare professional.

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Once you take action,

keep an eye on your results

to make sure the pattern

is resolved, revisiting

your Pattern Guide and

logbook as needed.

check

Use your Pattern Guide

to identify possible

causes and solutions.*

Write the action you

take in your logbook.

act

Something in your daily

routine is causing the

pattern. What is it? think

*Consult your healthcare professional for actions that are right for you.

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How do you manage patterns?

Connect your pattern with its cause in 3 simple steps. Both your Pattern Guide and logbook are helpful tools.

Your OneTouch® Verio™IQ Pattern Guide helps make it fast and easy to zero in on possible causes of high and low patterns and potential actions to resolve them.

Your OneTouch® Verio™IQ

How your OneTouch® Verio™IQ Pattern Guide helps you resolve patterns.

This handy guide was created to help you

think about what’s causing a pattern and

what action you may take to resolve it. The

two-sided pull-tab design gives you quick

access to a list of causes and actions related

to food, activity, and insulin. Check it out!

Making it easy to spot possible causes of high and low patterns and potential solutions helps simplify managing patterns.

Keep the guide with your meter, so it’s right there when you need it.

IMPORTANT TIPS

Always treat low blood sugar

when it occurs.

Low patterns should always be

resolved before high patterns.

Address one pattern at a time.

After breakfast glunch

low

pattern

Tools for Life™ OneTouch® Verio™IQ Pattern Guide

Insulin • Food • Activity

Before breakfast

After lunch gdinner

After dinner governight

POssIbLe cause POTenTIaL acTIOnToo much intermediate- or long-acting insulin before bed.

May need to reduce dose.

Bedtime snacks forgotten or didn’t include enough carbohydrates.

Bedtime snacks should include enough carbohydrates and protein.

Alcohol with dinners or later. Always eat enough carbohydrates if you drink alcohol.

Long periods of increased activity.

May need to add bedtime carbohydrate snack.

Always treat low blood glucose when it occurs.

LOW

s • B

eF

Or

e B

re

Ak

FAs

T

Consult your healthcare professional for actions that are right for you.

Consult your healthcare professional for actions that are right for you.

POssIbLe cause POTenTIaL acTIOn

Too much short-acting insulin before breakfasts.

May need to reduce dose.

Breakfasts skipped or did not include enough carbohydrates.

Plan consistent meals with enough carbohydrates and protein.

early breakfasts and/or late lunches.

Aim for consistent mealtimes or add mid-morning snack.

Increased morning activity. May need to reduce breakfast short-acting insulin dose or have extra carbohydrate snack.

Always treat low blood glucose when it occurs.

LOW

s • A

FT

er

Br

eA

kFA

sTg

lun

ch

POssIbLe cause POTenTIaL acTIOn

Too much short-acting insulin before lunches.

May need to reduce dose.

Too much intermediate insulin (N, NPH) taken before breakfast.

May need to reduce dose.

Lunches skipped or did not include enough carbohydrates.

Plan consistent meals with enough carbohydrates.

early lunches and/or late dinners.

Aim for consistent mealtimes or add mid-afternoon carbohydrate snack.

Very active afternoons. May need to reduce short-acting insulin dose before lunch or have extra carbohydrate snack.

Always treat low blood glucose when it occurs.

LOW

s • A

FT

er

LuN

cHg

dIN

Ne

r

Consult your healthcare professional for actions that are right for you.

POssIbLe cause POTenTIaL acTIOn

Too much short-acting insulin before dinners.

May need to reduce dose.

Too much intermediate- or long-acting insulin—or taken too early.

Test at 3 a.m. If result is low, may need to decrease overnight insulin dose.

dinners skipped or did not include enough carbohydrates.

Plan consistent meals with enough carbohydrates.

extra evening activity, or alcohol with dinners or later.

May need to reduce dinner insulin dose or eat carbohydrate snack before activity or if you drink alcohol.

Always treat low blood glucose when it occurs.

LOW

s • A

FT

er

dIN

Ne

rgO

Ve

rN

IgH

T

Consult your healthcare professional for actions that are right for you.

Before breakfast

Before dinner

Important tips

Before lunch

HIG

H pattern

Tools for Life™ OneTouch® Verio™IQ Pattern Guide

Insulin • Food • Activity

POssIbLe cause POTenTIaL acTIOn

Too little short-acting insulin before dinners.

May need to increase insulin dose.

Too little intermediate- or long-acting insulin before bed.

Test at 3 a.m. If result is not low, may need to increase insulin dose.

rebound high from too much intermediate- or long-acting insulin before bed.

Test at 3 a.m. If result is low, may need to reduce overnight insulin dose.

Late dinners or snacking at night. May need to eat earlier or reduce after-dinner snacks.

Less activity than usual. regular physical activity.

stress and illness can also contribute to high blood glucose.

HIg

Hs

• Be

FO

re

Br

eA

kFA

sT

Consult your healthcare professional for actions that are right for you.

POssIbLe cause POTenTIaL acTIOn

Too little short-acting insulin before breakfasts.

May need to increase dose.

High-carbohydrate breakfasts. May need to reduce carbohydrates or increase before-breakfast short-acting insulin dose.

Late breakfasts. Aim for consistent mealtimes.

Mid-morning snacks too big or unnecessary.

May need to reduce carbohydrates in snack or eliminate entirely.

Less activity than usual. regular physical activity.

stress and illness can also contribute to high blood glucose.

HIg

Hs

• Be

FO

re

LuN

cH

Consult your healthcare professional for actions that are right for you.

POssIbLe cause POTenTIaL acTIOnToo little short-acting insulin before lunches.

May need to increase dose.

Too little intermediate insulin (N, NPH) taken before breakfast.

May need to increase dose.

High-carbohydrate lunches. May need to reduce carbohydrates or increase before-lunch short-acting insulin dose.

Late lunches. Aim for consistent mealtimes.

Mid-afternoon snacks too big or unnecessary.

May need to reduce carbohydrates in snacks or eliminate entirely.

Less activity than usual. regular physical activity.

stress and illness can also contribute to high blood glucose.

HIg

Hs

• Be

FO

re

dIN

Ne

r

Consult your healthcare professional for actions that are right for you.

Important tIps

Always treat low blood sugar when it occurs.

Low patterns should always be resolved before high patterns.

Address one pattern at a time.

© 2011 LifeScan, Inc. Milpitas, CA 95035 9/11 AW 3085040A

Your onetouch® Verio™IQ meter comes with these preset limits:

You can personalize the limits for detecting patterns. For directions, see chapter 1 of your Owner’s Booklet. consult your healthcare professional for limits that are right for you.

Low (anytime)

High (before meal)

70 mg/dL 130 mg/dL

IMP

Or

TAN

T T

IPs