How to Choose and Use Your Blood Glucose Meter

Article by Amy Stephens

Blood glucose monitoring system is a way of testing the concentration of glucose in the blood (glycemia). Particularly important in the care of diabetes mellitus, a b. glucose test is performed by piercing the skin (typically, on the finger) to draw blood, then applying the blood to a chemically active disposable Glucose Test Strips. Different manufacturers use different technology, but most systems measure an electrical characteristic, and use this to determine the glucose level in the blood.

Contrary to expectations, not all of are comfortable around digital or electronic devices. Having barely mastered the art of receiving and making calls on the cell phone, the last thing we want to do is learn to use yet another digital gizmo – this one a b.glucose meters. Fortunately, the modern day B. Glucose Monitor is extremely easy to use. Today I shall explain how to use your new Blood Glucose Monitor.

Using Blood Glucose Monitors

1. Ensure you hands are clean. 2. Open the package containing your new B. Glucose Monitor. 3. Remove from the package and keep ready the lancing device, the box containing the glucose monitoring strips and the blood sugar monitor. 4. Insert a fresh unused lance in the lancing device, set it to 3 (by rotating the base of the lancing device) and prime it (usually achieved by pressing the top once). 5. Extract the code chip (a small white rectangular plastic) from the box containing the b. glucose strips and insert the chip into the receptacle (usually located on the side of the Blood Glucose Monitor). This needs to be done each time you open a fresh box of b. glucose strips (not each time you take a b. glucose test). 6. After inserting the code chip into the blood glucose test meter, switch on the B. Glucose Monitor and wait until a code number appears – this ensures that the B. Glucose Monitor and the diabetes test strips are synchronized. 7. Extract a fresh glucose strip from the box and keep ready. 8. Hold the lancing device vertically on the tip of any finger and release the trigger (usually a small round button on the side of the diabetic lancing devices. A very tinny almost invisible hole will be created in your skin. 9. You may need to press the around the hole so that a small drop of blood becomes visible on the surface of your skin. 10. Switch on the B. Glucose Monitor and wait for the blood icon to flash (takes about 10 seconds). 11. Take the glucose strip and swipe (the end with the round hole) across the drop of blood. You would want to ensure the blood is evenly spread across the hole of the glucose strip. 12. Insert the glucose strip into the receptacle of the Blood Glucose Monitor and wait for the results (takes a few seconds). 13. Note down the time, the contents of your meal and the b. glucose result in a diary or notebook specially set aside for this purpose. 14. Push out the cover from the lower end of the lancing device – this exposes the lance. 15. Carefully remove the used lance from the lancing device and also the used glucose strip from the B. Glucose Monitor and bag it separately before discarding. 16. Switch off the Blood Glucose Monitor and put the kit away in a safe place so your children do not have access to it.

Difficulty in extracting blood

The depth to which the needle of the lancing device enters the skin can be controlled. For children, the lancing device can be set to a depth of 1 or 2. This results in shallow penetration but should be okay for kids. For adults, the lancing device needs to be set to a minimum depth of 3. If this does not produce the desired result, try 3.5 or 4 or more.

Once you use the lancing device is used, the drop of blood (usually) does not automatically appear on the skin; it needs to be coaxed out by pressing the area surrounding the prick. Usually, a light squeeze does the trick.

Typefreediabetes offers a full line of diabetes supplies, including diabetes socks, durable diabetes medical equipment, Body Fat Scales and facts about diabetes. Typefreediabetes offers quality products at discounted prices on a wide selection of quality name brand equipment and supplies.

About the Author

TypeFreeDiabetes.com is the premier source for your diabetic needs on-line. At TypeFreeDiabetes.com, you can enjoy a balanced diabetic lifestyle by learning about – how to control blood sugar, lower body fat, diet to prevent diabetes, reduce diabetes medications and reverse diabetes complications.Check out for : Sugar Free Cakes and Sugar free candy

How a Blood Glucose Meter Works

Article by Eugenio Clemons

It comes equipped with speakers so as to hear it properly. Additionally, there are some that even explains final results to you, especially unless you know how to read the results properly. This type can be handy as it even has an internal memory to be able to keep track of your weekly progress by keeping the outcome of your previous reports.A blood glucose meter is mostly a very useful device for people with diabetes or even people who just want to keep an eye on their blood sugar concentrations. It can save you considerable time and money as don’t go to your doctor perhaps up to you used to, since you can keep track of your blood’s glucose content without any help.For those who have diabetes, medical lancets are a portion of life. Lancets are medical devices that come from surgical steel available in several sizes or gauges that are used to generate a blood sample. The gauge size indicates the width within the blade that is useful to puncture the skin. The reduced the gauge number is usually, the deeper and large the puncture point is usually. Many people who use diabetic lancets wish to use the higher assess, or smaller the puncture cut while they believe it to end up less painful. Nevertheless, those patients with callused skin color or poor circulation realize its more beneficial to make use of the smaller gauges because it is easier to have the required blood sample. There are many manufactures that produce lancets, they also all have the similar general design. Lancing devices are spring-triggered tools that force the lancet on the skin, while concealing this cutting piece. Diabetic lancing items do vary in results and design, so it is important that patients find one that they are comfortable using. Individual lancets and lancing devices vary in price and can be purchased from most medical machine stores and pharmacies.Because diabetics must constantly test their particular sugar levels, diabetic lancets is a medical necessity. When a lancet is employed, it punctures the skin with the intention that a blood sample are usually easily obtained. While smaller gauged lancets may be less painful, they can make it more difficult to find the blood flow that the bigger gauges can create. Lancets can be utilized individually, but many the victims of diabetes, especially new patients and children prefer try using a lancing device. Lancing devices will often be included with the diabetic tests meter.There are many different ways that they diabetes lancets are utilized, however, there are some typical practices followed by most users. It is recommended that this patients wash their hands before having a lancet. Equally important is to dry the area.

Many medical researchers also recommend sterilizing the spot by using rubbing alcohol. Lancets can be made use of anywhere, but they become more frequently used on the sides of the patients fingers or your figure tips themselves. It is important to vary where the diabetic lancets are widely-used to prevent soreness within the puncture area. There is kind of a large debate about how often patients switch out their lancets for completely new ones. While it is recommended that patients work with a lancet most every morning, many patients will recycling their lancets for weeks or months.

About the Author

I am a diabetic Educator!For more information visit my website: Monitoring Blood Sugar Levels Effectively

Testing For Pre Diabetes

Article by Roger Thompson

Pre-diabetes, also known as “impaired glucose tolerance,” is a health condition with no symptoms. It is almost always present before a person develops the more serious type 2 diabetes. It is an alarming sign for upcoming diabetes or a chance to change your future. Universally numerous terms were given like, Borderline Diabetes, Chemical Diabetes, Touch of Diabetes etc. More and more, doctors are recognizing the importance of diagnosing pre-diabetes as treatment of the condition may prevent more serious health problems. For example, early diagnosis and treatment of pre-diabetes may prevent type 2 diabetes as well as associated complications such as heart and blood vessel disease and eye and kidney disease. Doctors now know that the health complications associated with type 2 diabetes often occur before the medical diagnosis of diabetes is made.

When there are indications that a person may be subject to developing diabetes, it may be prudent to be tested periodically to determine if the ailment is imminent. Many times a patient takes a diabetes test and is determined have pre diabetes, a level of sugar in their blood that may indicate it is likely they will develop diabetes. There are a couple of tests the doctor can perform to determine if a person has pre diabetes or full blown diabetes. Glucose that is not appropriately processed by the body will adhere to blood cells instead of being transferred into the body’s cells. The fasting plasma glucose test can determine how much sugar is in the blood for the past 30 to 60 days. A level of 100 or less is accepted as normal and a reading of between 100 and 125 is considered pre diabetes. When readings are over 126 they are consider to have diabetes.

Another test for diabetes can be done with the invasiveness of drawing blood, to determine how well the body reacts to sugar intake. A blood glucose test is performed with the results noted. The patient then drinks a 12 ounce soda with a high sugar content and the pre diabetes test is repeated. If the amount of sugar in the blood increases dramatically, it can be a sign the body is not producing enough insulin or that the insulin produced is not able to do its job.

Most doctors rely on the fasting plasma glucose test for accuracy.

While genetic predisposition is one of the most commonly considered indicators a person may contract diabetes there are others to consider. Type 2 diabetes, or adult onset diabetes is more common if folks over the age of 45. Being overweight with a body mass index greater than 25 and during a glucose tolerance test, indications noted the patient is susceptible to developing diabetes. In some cases when pre diabetes has been detected a change in lifestyle and eating habits can help the body better process the sugar in the bloodstream, reducing the need for drug intervention later in life. Reducing the mount of refined sugar in the diet and working to reduce cholesterol levels have been successful in reducing the onset of diabetes. Exercise can also improve good cholesterol levels while helping to reduce bad cholesterol and is a benefit for those overweight in attempt to drop the extra pounds.

About the Author

Roger Thompson writes for Leading Leading Portal for health care, medical, biotech and hospital jobs.