We live in a data-driven society yet very few of us want to measure our own body data. But how will we know if we are healthy if we don’t know our numbers? I have been weighing myself daily for over a decade but I recently realised that I had no idea what my blood sugar levels were.
This fact hit me during a recent class reunion and my doctor friend advised me to get a blood glucose monitoring kit. Singapore is not just an aging society, we are an increasingly unhealthy population. More than 400,000 people in Singapore (6 million population) live with diabetes, with the number projected to rise to 1 million by 2050. According to Diabetes Singapore, an estimated 430,000 (or 14% of) Singaporeans aged 18-19 years are also diagnosed with pre-diabetes!
Now most people won’t buy a blood glucose monitor until they get diabetes. But since diabetes cannot be cured, why don’t we take steps to prevent it?
I went shopping and saw blood glucose monitors selling for around $80 SGD at retail. Hmm, quite pricey. I went online and found this Sinocare model going for only $20. I also bought a Sinocare blood pressure monitor for $35. With prices so low, there’s really no excuse not to do home testing.
Anyway, I was relieved to see my blood glucose at 4.8 mmol/L (normal is 4.0 to 7.0 when tested before meals) but I need to try again after 8 hours of fasting.
I know I am unlikely to be pre-diabetic, since I keep my weight optimal with a proper diet and regular exercise. However, nothing beats having actual body data.