What is a Blood Glucose Meter?

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease’s Diabetes Dictionary, a blood glucose meter is, in short, a small machine that allows you to check your blood glucose level from the convenience of your own home. Ranging in price from $30 to 120, most meters are similar in operation. The user pricks his or her finger with the supplied lancet, draws a drop of blood, and places the blood on a test strip that is then inserted into the meter. In a matter of seconds, the meter reads the levels of sugar in the blood and displays a number to the tester.

Why Test?

Because a diabetic’s blood sugar fluctuates throughout the day based on the amount of insulin received, it is important to keep track of blood sugar levels periodically. It is difficult to monitor the level of sugar in the blood through physical symptoms alone. It is possible for a person to have no physical symptoms but still be suffering from high or low blood sugar. Additionally, testing regularly allows for adjustment in areas such as insulin and medication intake, diet, and exercise. Other reasons for testing and maintaining a record of your test results include

• Identifying patterns in blood glucose control;
• Reducing the risk of long–term diabetes complications (including heart and kidney disease, nerve damage, etc);
• Understanding the impact food, activity, and medications have on your blood glucose;
• Quickly identifying either a high or low glucose level and treating the problem accordingly;
• Recognizing what may be causing sudden spikes or declines in glucose levels;
• Creating less guess work for your physician when establishing a treatment plan;
• Determining the effectiveness of the current treatment plan;
• Evaluating changes in your treatment plan; and
• Learning, with the assistance of your physician, how to modify food intake, activity levels, and medications while maintaining healthy glucose levels.

How Often Should I Test?

The amount you test during the day will be determined by your specific condition. For example, according to an article published in U.S. Pharmacist, a patient whose body is insulin–dependent may test anywhere from six to 10 times a day at initial diagnosis and with less frequency after establishing his body’s blood sugar patterns. Likewise, a patient suffering from type 2 diabetes who is not insulin–dependent may only have to test once a day to maintain a healthy blood sugar level.

Choosing a Meter

Each year, faster, more reliable blood glucose meters or monitoring systems are manufactured. Many meters report results in a matter of seconds and some have a memory feature that will store a designated number of test results for later access. Many systems are small, battery–operated devices that are both portable and durable. According to the Food and Drug Administration, some newer modeled meters even have automatic timing, error messages, and even spoken instructions for the visually impaired. Because there are so many options available, it is important that you choose a meter that works best for your needs. Research the available models and discuss the features and their uses with your physician before deciding which meter is right for you.

For information about receiving a free glucose monitor, click here.