Glucometer

This is an extensive article on glucometers which are used by most diabetics. Glucometers are probably the most useful and important device which a person with diabetes will need because it is the only way that a diabetic knows on a daily basis if their medication or therapy is working.

Glucometer Types

A glucometer is an apparatus which calculates the amount of glucose in the blood.

There are many different types of glucometers currently for sale. They come in different sizes, have different traits with different price ranges. There are also many styles and those with different aspects. You can as a rule purchase a glucometer which fits any life style and not need to pay a fortune for it.

Easy to Use

There are some glucometers which are confusing. But in current years, makers have made testing blood much simpler to use and requiring less amounts of blood necessitate for testing. The Freestyle Freedom Lite made by Bayer needs only 0.3 micro liters blood for a precise test. Some meters permit testing in other sites rather than a fingertip. Popular spots are palm, forearm as well as areas on the leg.

Glucometer Features

With this line of devices, features have become a main promotional item. Most glucometers offer essential features, but there are as well many with advanced features such as diagramming your blood analysis to show a precise evaluation of your blood glucose levels. Also there are glucometers such as the One Touch Ultra Smart where data can be downloaded to your computer in order to assist you as well as your physician in monitoring your test results. Glucometers like the TRUE2go meter featured by Home Diagnostics can show values in around 4 seconds.

Portability

Also in current years, companies have devised and assembled glucometers which are exceptionally convenient. One of these devices is the Accu-Chek Compact, which is one of the smaller currently on the market and is designed for the on-the-go person who does not want to drag around various gadgets to take blood levels several times a day.

Glucometer Price

These devices have become quite pricey. Not only are the glucometers themselves expensive but the test strips in some cases can cost more than a dollar a piece. Makers have noted this dilemma and are starting to make less costly glucometers. You often lose features but many glucometers can be set up for less than $35 which is a great discrepancy from years ago.

Some Quick Facts

• Many glucometers need less blood samples than others.
• Some meters are accessible with voice components or large number exhibits for the visual impaired.
• New devices are being considered which entail a sensor introduced under the skin which will read glucose levels constantly and sound an alarm if levels go too high or low and entirely eliminating the necessitate to pierce fingers.

Noninvasive Glucometer

If you are a diabetic, have you still questioned what it might be like to never have to stick your finger or arm a few times everyday to get your blood sugar levels? That day may have by now come when all you will need is to swipe a gadget the dimension of a cellular phone across the end of a fingertip with infrared rays which senses what the glucose blood level is.

A number of years ago, the “Hong Kong Polytechnic Institute” left an international exhibition for new inventions, with 9 honors. This team won the gold medal because of their development of a noninvasive blood glucometer.

This is not the only time that this type of technology has been used in an attempt to find a replacement to throbbing fingersticks as a way for measuring glucose levels in the blood. Back in 1991, an application was filed with the United States Office of Patents for an apparatus which is hand-held and uses infrared knowledge to calculate blood glucose level noninvasively.

A study which was released by Diabetes Care 2002 summarized a clinical trial which was used for testing an “advanced handheld non-invasive glucose monitor prototype” which makes use of infrared expertise to sense blood levels of glucose. Presently the FDA have not granted approval for any noninvasive glucometer existing for the public today which uses this expertise but because of the Hong Kong team, that day could perhaps shortly be here.

Glucometer Accuracy

Glucometers are probably the most useful device used by diabetics for self-monitoring of blood glucose. There are many kinds and many manufactures of these devices and are available using two different principles:

• There is a chemical which is there on a test strip that when comes in contact with any glucose in blood, produces a color. The glucometer then measures the intensity of this color and then shows the glucose level present, conveyed in mg/dL.
• The second type of glucometer calculates the electric current in the blood which depends on the glucose in the sample of blood. As the blood comes in contact with the strip, an enzyme on the strip will transfer electrons from the glucose in the blood sample to a chemical in the strip measuring the flow of these electrons as current. The glucometer then reads the amount of current present and then shows the amount of glucose present in the sample in mg/dL

Accuracy

Often individuals are concerned about the accuracy of these meter readings. But the assessments are generally reported as being very accurate. There can be an insignificant disparity between lab samples and glucometer readings caused by the following reasons:

• There is a 10% to 15% variation in analyses for the reason that a lab uses blood plasma and meters only use whole blood.
• Glucometers make use of blood from capillaries where labs use venous blood. Blood from capillary does give a somewhat higher value than venous blood.

Glucometer Strips

Diabetes test strips are part of the glucometer method to measure blood glucose levels. The strips are placed in a meter and read your blood glucose level by letting a blood drop or dawn into them. Some strips can only be used with specific meters, while there are others which can be used with multiple glucometers. Some meters use sampling discs rather than individual strips, and these discs can be loaded and used for multiple tests.

Glucometers can be ordered from most drug or pharmaceutical company websites. They usually come in boxes of fifty and cost around $30.00. On some discount sites, you can buy in bulk and also receive a free glucometer.

Something that needs to be watched when purchasing test strips on the internet – there have been instances of contaminated strips which give inaccurate glucose readings. And the FDA has issued a press release concerning counterfeit test strips. Test strips which are contaminated or counterfeit potentially can give incorrect values – either too high or too low – and can result in a diabetic using too much or too little insulin. This can lead to serious problems or even death.

Always make sure your glucometer and test strips are working properly. Also make sure your doctor is aware of these problems with test strips. If I were shopping on the internet for tests strips, I would advice using a well known supplier such as WalMart, Target or Amazon which all ship worldwide.

One Touch, Accu Chek, Bayer Glucometers – India

These are many brands and types of glucometers made by many pharmaceutical companies. Most of them can provide a test result in only 5 seconds while others may take up to 45 seconds. They require just a speck of blood. This means less pain even when testing on your finger and often you can use a lancet on your forearm as well as other areas on your leg. When you stay with the name brand companies there is really very little difference in glucometers.

From my research it looks as if Johnson and Johnson One Touch, Accu Chek and Bayer brand are available in India. Johnson and Johnson’s One Touch has a world-wide warranty. If you live in India you should buy from an Indian representative so that service can be quick and efficient and also because the representative should teach you how to use it. Accu Chek is made by Roche Germany. One Touch and Accu Chek are both available thru Infinity Mediquip India which is an Indian company that deals in quality healthcare products for home use. They have been in the Family Healthcare market since 1996.

Glucometers come in many shapes, colors and style. Some are made by well known companies such as Johnson and Johnson while others are make by companies that are less well known. Some manufactures give meters away because the meters cost far less than the years of using their test strips. Some have names such as One Touch but are in many ways the same as Accu Chek – it does not matter what the name is, they all work on the same principals and they all have an expensive model, mid priced model and cheaper model.

Most kits for new glucometers have the following supplies:

• The meter itself
• Control solution
• Adjustable blood sampler
• Lancets
• Reference Guide
• Logbook
• Batteries
• Carrying case

Your test strips are usually sold separately. You can find glucometers no matter what brand on medical, pharmaceutical or discount websites. You can also get these same supplies from your neighborhood drug store.

As for which glucometer to buy, in my opinion I would not buy based upon the cost of the meter but rather on the cost of the test strips as in the long run these will be your greatest expense.

If you have any more questions about Glucometers, don’t hesitate to ask..!

Also Read:

• Do diabetes test strips expire ?