A glucose meter is a small device that allows you to measure and display your current blood glucose (sugar) level. They are essential for the longevity and daily life of people with diabetes. If blood sugar levels are left uncontrolled, short term and long term problems can and will eventually result. Since your blood sugar is affected by the food you eat, how much you exercise, medications, stress and more1, it’s important to check your blood sugar level regularly throughout the day. Thanks to advances in medicine, blood glucose meters are readily available and have made managing your diabetes much easier. In this article, we’ll look at how to choose a meter that fits your lifestyle.
Working of Blood Glucose Meters
The way the Blood Glucose meter works is quite simple. On most models, you insert the test strip into the device, clean your fingertip, gently prick it with the lancet, and touch the blood with the test strip. Your current blood glucose reading is then displayed on the screen.
There are several factors that affect your glucose level when using a fingerstick. This includes user technique, sterility of the test site, the environment in which you are testing, the type of test strips you have, or unknown manufacturer changes. Make sure you read the manufacturer’s instructions, always clean your fingers and avoid buying test strips from unreliable sellers. Check regularly for manufacturer updates.
How to Choose a Blood Glucose Meter
There are many factors that determine the type of blood glucose meter you choose. The first step is to talk to your doctor or nurse about your options. They can tell you the pros and cons of each meter based on your unique circumstances. The next step is to check your insurance coverage. Some suppliers cover only certain types of blood glucose meters and accessories. So, if you are on a tight budget, this could be your main deciding factor
Blood Sample Size
Some meters require a larger blood sample than others, which may be difficult for people with poor circulation or other health problems. Make sure you choose a meter that doesn’t strain your fingers. If you need to test more frequently, devices that require larger samples become a pain. Talk to your doctor about metered options that require a smaller blood sample size.
Accuracy
It is very important to get an accurate reading of your blood glucose level and that is why the meter was designed. Unfortunately, some gauges are not as accurate as they claim. External factors can also affect accuracy. Make sure you buy from a trusted retailer and choose an FDA approved meter. To ensure consistency, use metering for your daily management.
Easy to use
You’ll be using blood glucose meter for a long time, so look for one that’s easy to understand. The more complicated it is, the more likely you are to miss the necessary tests. Make sure you understand how to use it and see if there are additional features to make day-to-day management easier.
Design
Form follows function, so take the time to find a meter that fits your needs. There are many different Blood Glucose meter sizes and shapes on the market; All you have to do is find one that suits you.
Speed
If you really want to live your life, your meter needs to be fast. Otherwise you sit several times a day. Try to find a meter that gives results in 6 seconds or less.
Storage Possibilities
With the advanced technology available today, you can choose how you want to manage and store your reading and data. Most devices are equipped with storage capacity, it is important how much. There are counter options that contain thousands of readings and others that go as low as 100. If you’re trying to get a more complete picture of your diabetes, we recommend getting something with more storage options.
Accessibility
This was under discussion we had earlier about insurance coverage, but is worth repeating. Diabetes can be expensive if you don’t get insurance, so make sure you buy something within your budget.
Conclusion
There are many types of blood glucose meters on the market to help people with diabetes regularly and accurately check their blood glucose levels. Be sure to take the time to familiarize yourself with the different options and ask your doctor or nurse for help or recommendations. If your doctor decides that a Blood Glucose meter will benefit you, Hemocue has you covered. We are proud to present you the latest technology in diabetes management. We focus on providing exceptional customer service and premium branded products while lowering your overhead costs.
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