Got Diabetes and Wondering How Your Blood Glucose Monitor Actually Works?

Are you one of the increasing number of people with diabetes who needs to monitor their blood sugar levels at home. If so, it is important to know how the tests work and what can effect the results giving inaccurate readings.

Diabetes Mellitus is a widespread disease that is caused by high blood glucose. However, it is not extremely difficult to cure and there have been cases of patients recovering from diabetes and continuing a normal life. There are many ways to control and monitor diabetes. For a long time, urine has been used as a way to check the amount of glucose in the body. However, it is no longer considered reliable. In its place, now blood is used. A machine that is now very commonly used to evaluate abnormal and normal blood glucose level is the Blood Glucose Monitor.

A blood glucose monitor or glucose meter is a small portable battery-powered electronic device that now comes in several models. The glucose meter is used to determine the deviations from the normal blood glucose level. The glucose test and the glucose reading are used to diagnose diabetes. These machines provide glucose readings from 0 to 600 mg/dl. Newer models now allow people to use blood from places other than the fingertip, which is the most common place from which it is extracted. Some models have large digital display and even spoken instructions for people with visual problems. Some models require smaller drops of blood than others. One must be careful while choosing a model, as it is an expenditure that has to be thought over. It is advisable to discuss with other users before buying one as all models have their pluses and minuses.

A blood glucose meter is an instrument that can be used even at home. This Blood glucose meter is used for taking a glucose test and it is a must have for those undergoing diabetes treatment. There is usually a special coated strip on which a drop of blood is placed. The blood is usually taken from the fingertip using a lancing device, which shoots a small, lancet into the skin. However, it is not necessary for it to be taken from the fingertip and sometimes blood is taken from other places like the forearm, thigh, calf or upper arm as the fingertip often gets calloused and sore. The blood is placed on the opposite side of the strip though this depends on the blood glucose meter. Then this strip is inserted into the blood glucose meter.

The blood reacts with chemicals on the strip and the blood glucose meter receives an electronic pulse. The machine then calculates the amount of glucose in the blood and displays glucose reading on the digital screen. A record of the readings will go a long way in helping the physician decide on the kind of diabetes treatment that needs to be given to the patient.

There is also another way of detecting the abnormal or normal blood glucose level in the body. Here, the drop of blood is placed on a special strip that changes color, depending on the amount of glucose. There is a color-coded index that comes along with it that will have listed the particular color the strip changes into when it reacts with the blood and judges the amount of glucose in it. There will be different colors for different amount of glucose. However glucose reading is not very accurate, as it does not give you the exact amount of glucose present.

A blood glucose monitor gives fairly accurate readings if used properly. The glucose meter has to be maintained. It may become old and dirty and if it is kept at high temperature or humidity, the machine's glucose reading may become inaccurate. It must be cleaned with a slightly damp cloth every now and then, to keep it dirt free. The hand from which the blood is taken must be clean and dry. Otherwise, the dirt may interfere with the glucose test results.

This glucose test will help people keep track of the glucose level in their blood and control their normal blood glucose levels and continue their diabetes treatment effectively. They will be help patients to make dietary changes and adjust their consumption of fat and carbohydrates. This will help them maintain normal blood glucose level and undertake any glucose treatment if necessary.

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Diabetes Blood Sugar Levels - Tips on How to Monitor Your Blood Glucose at Home

Is monitoring blood glucose levels at home something you are going to have to do for either yourself or a family member?

Monitoring blood glucose levels at home is part of the diabetes treatment that is advocated by physicians all over the world today in addition to the diabetes diet. Most physicians recommend that patients acquire a blood glucose monitor or a glucose meter and learn how to take a glucose test and glucose reading on a daily basis.

However, physicians caution that the accuracy of the glucose reading taken at home depends on the capabilities of the glucose meter and the way the glucose test is taken. So it is very important that the person using the blood glucose monitor reads the manual supplied with the glucose meter and follows the instructions faithfully. The test must be performed using the proper techniques and the meter should be properly calibrated.

Home glucose meters are considered to be accurate if their reading falls within a 20% + or - variance to the Lab analyzed blood sample. This is because the Lab tests are done on the plasma extracts of the blood sample and home glucose tests are done on whole blood samples. However, modern blood glucose monitors take care of the variance and calibrate their glucose reading to match with Lab readings up to 5% level of accuracy.

If the glucose readings are significantly low, look for signs of hypoglycemia or abnormal low level of sugar in the blood. The symptoms include lethargy, confusion, inattention, shakiness or coordination problems. Immediately give the patient something sweet to eat like honey. This is emergency diabetic treatment. Later check on the diabetes diet prescribed by the physician and discuss with him on what has gone wrong in the diabetes treatment.

If none of these problems of hypoglycemia are evident, then the test procedure may need to be checked for accuracy:-

Check if the sample was large enough to cover the strip's test area completely.
Check whether the strip has been handled and stored as instructed.
Some strips are sensitive in the sampling area and should not be touched while handling. The strips should be taken out from the box and the foil only a few seconds before using. If the strips are to be taken in a car, all effort should be made to ensure that they are not exposed to high temperatures or humidity. Check the expiry date on the strip. Use the strip with the prescribed meter only and ensure that the code from the strip container matches the number coded into the machine. You could get incorrect readings for the following reasons:-

The glucose meter is dirty
The meter had been dropped on the floor or from a height and damaged.
The glucose meter is stored in high temperature conditions.
The solutions that come with the blood glucose monitor could have expired.
Despite all precautions and faithful adherence to the instructions contained in the manual, if your meter continues to give you an erroneous reading, call the manufacturer.

Monitoring blood glucose levels at home is not very difficult but it must be remembered that glucose meters become less reliable over time and must be checked thoroughly before use. The new models of blood glucose monitors are easier to use and more foolproof. The test strips require only a small drop of blood and are corrected to plasma values. The results are easier to understand and compare with the results from the lab. Built-in memory for storing results and faster test times make these meters very attractive.

Patients using glucose meters to record the glucose reading as part of their daily diabetes management should learn how to maintain the results of the tests and how to record them:-
Glucose test and glucose readings must be set down on paper along with the time and date and details of the dose of medication taken.
Details of food intake, exercise and difficulties with the illness should also be recorded.
Stress should also be recorded whenever applicable.
This method helps the health care professional identify daily patterns and make necessary medication adjustments to the diabetes treatment and diabetes diet.

Michael Jennings has a special interest in diabetes and invites you to find out how to manage diabetes naturally through diet [http://www.treat-diabetes-naturally.com]. He also supplies up-to-date information on blood glucose monitors and diabetes to help you in the management of your condition.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.