Everyone with diabetes should regularly check their blood sugar or glucose levels. Knowing your blood sugar level will allow you to change your diabetes management strategy if the level is not close to your target blood sugar level. In addition, regular monitoring of your blood sugar levels can help reduce your risk of developing long-term complications of diabetes.
According to studies in people with type 1 diabetes (the Diabetes Control and Complications Study [DCCT]) and type 2 diabetes (the United Kingdom Prevention of Diabetes Mellitus [UKPDS]), maintaining blood sugar levels and glycated hemoglobin levels, close to normal, significantly reduces the risk of complications of diabetes mellitus.
In this article, we will brief you on ways to check the sugar level in your blood with diabetes and point you to where you can buy blood glucose test strips.
Ways To Determine the Level of Sugar in Your Blood With Diabetes
- The conventional method for measuring blood sugar at home involves sticking a lancet (a tiny, pointed needle) into your finger, putting a drop of blood on a test strip, and sticking the strip into a meter that shows your blood sugar level.
- Blood glucose meters that use other locations for testing: With the modern glucometer, you can test your blood sugar level from other areas, including the upper arm, forearm, base of the thumb, and thigh.
- Laser blood sampling for analysis: In 1998, laser blood sampling was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The laser device creates a high-precision light beam that penetrates the skin of the finger instead of piercing it, thereby reducing pain and discomfort.
- MiniMed system that constantly monitors glucose levels: This device consists of a small plastic catheter (a very small tube) that is inserted directly under the skin. It collects a small amount of blood and measures the sugar concentration for 72 hours.
- GlucoWatch: In 2001, the FDA approved the GlucoWatch, a watch-like device that helps people with diabetes measure blood sugar using an electrical current. It draws a small amount of fluid from the skin and measures blood sugar three times an hour for 12 hours. GlucoWatch is considered the first step towards non-invasive continuous blood glucose monitoring, but it has several disadvantages.
Modern Methods of Measuring Blood Sugar
People with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, in order to lead an active full life, and avoid complications and the development of the disease, require constant monitoring and maintenance of normal blood glucose levels.
This is achieved by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, proper diet, and regular blood sugar measurements. Modern glucometers can be easily purchased at NorthSideMeds and used for self-monitoring at home; they do not require much knowledge to obtain reliable information.
Choosing a Glucometer and Test Strips for It
It is necessary to choose a glucometer individually based on the needs, age, and lifestyle of a person with diabetes. The price, dimensions of the device, and, of course, measurement accuracy are important. Modern devices have a number of additional functions:
- Sound reminders
- A memory of previous measurements
- Derivation of the average result
- Compatibility with a computer
These functions allow you to see measurement statistics and download data to a computer into special analytics programs and electronic self-control diaries for further analysis. Glucometers differ in the amount of blood required for analysis and the speed of obtaining the result.
In addition to the glucometer, the standard for measuring blood sugar concentration includes test strips, control solutions, lancets, and a prick pen. Test strips should be purchased from the glucometer manufacturer or from a reputable pharmacy like NorthSideMeds.
Otherwise, other manufacturers do not guarantee high-quality work in devices. Each batch of test strips has its own code, and it is a big plus if the glucometer has an auto-coding function so as not to enter this code manually with each measurement.
Devices and test strips for determining the level of glycemia must have a high degree of accuracy; a person’s health and life depend on the reliability of their readings. In NorthSideMeds, glucometers of reliable and trusted companies are presented; they have certificates and guarantees and are recommended for self-monitoring of blood glucose levels.
Conclusion
You can adopt several glucose monitoring systems that require no expertise to use. However, it would help to be vigilant in selecting your preferred choice. In order to choose right and get the best from your selected test strip, we advise you to shop at NorthSideMeds, a store you can buy diabetes prescriptions in Canada.