Glucose meter how does it work

To avoid the pain, many people draw blood from other areas. Most blood glucose meters were originally designed to be used with capillary blood taken from a finger prick due to the highly accurate results from these blood glucose readings. Some meters, including all of the meters we carry, have been approved for alternate site testing AST , which is blood drawn from areas other than your fingertips, such as your palm or arm.

If you are interested in AST, read your meter directions to find out if it's approved for alternate site testing before attempting to make the change. When you test your blood sugar using any glucometer the result shows you an estimate of the amount of glucose in your blood. The U. Many factors can affect the accuracy of your blood glucose monitor's results, including temperature, levels of other substances such as ascorbic acid in your blood, traces of other elements on your skin such as food residue , water, heat, the age of your test strips check expiration dates , and many more.

When you understand the process, you can see why control solution is important. Control solution assists you in making sure that the enzymes on the test strips haven't been damaged.

The enzyme on test strips is very sensitive to environmental factors, as previously explained. Once test strips are shipped from the factory it is difficult to ensure environmental factors have not affected the enzymes on the test strips.

If one is affected, all are in that shipped batch. Use control solution on the first strip you pull from a new container to verify that yours are in good condition. Need a new glucose meter? Factors that affect your glucose reading. Before you buy glucometer it is important to keep a few things in mind Sample size : Look out for the blood sample needed to perform a test.

This will give you an idea of how much blood you may need to perform a test. The smaller your sample size, the less blood you will need to get the result. Though there are brands that claim to offer more these days. Ease of use : Consider how easy to use your glucometer is. You will be taking reading multiple times, so it is better if your have less complicated steps to follow. Memory : Consider whether the meters memory size will be sufficient for you or not.

If you test 5 times a day than a test memory will give about 20 days of memory. Now choose according to your testing units. If you use alcohol wipes instead of washing, be sure to let the site dry before testing. Next, put a testing strip into the meter. Prick your finger with the lancet to get a small drop of blood. Use the sides of the fingertips instead of the tip to decrease finger discomfort. The blood goes on the test strip you inserted into the meter.

Your monitor will analyze the blood and give you the blood glucose reading on its digital display usually within a minute. Finger pricks rarely require a bandage, but you may want to use one if bleeding continues beyond a few drops.

If you have type 1 diabetes , you may need to test your blood glucose four or more times per day. This includes before and after meals and exercise, and more often when you are sick. If you have type 2 diabetes , your doctor will let you know when and how often to test your blood glucose. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American College of Endocrinology recommends you keep fasting and premeal glucose values at and post-prandial However, these are general guidelines and are not for everyone.

Ask your doctor about your target levels. Regular blood glucose monitoring is an essential tool to help you take control of your diabetes. Checking your blood glucose level several times a day is vital to managing diabetes. Testing your blood sugar yourself on an at-home meter is fairly….

Catching those times and intervening appropriately can, in theory, lessen the negative effects of the disease, which can include heart disease, blindness, limb amputation, and kidney failure. Their system consists of an ink made of glucose-responsive carbon nanotubes. The ink would be injected under the skin in a design a few centimeters square, creating a sugar-sensitive tattoo.

And could creative diabetics design their own custom nanotube image?