American Diabetes Association Complete Guide to Diabetes. American Diabetes Association
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Название: American Diabetes Association Complete Guide to Diabetes
Автор: American Diabetes Association
Издательство: Ingram
Жанр: Медицина
isbn: 9781580403689
isbn:
Blood Glucose Log: A record of your blood glucose readings over time. Some people prefer a paper log, whereas others prefer a digital log.
Lancets
Lancets allow you to take a sample of blood with minimal discomfort and optimal discretion. The spring-loaded device contains a needle or lancet, a way to select how deep the needle goes, and a release button. You’ll want to use the shallowest poke possible to draw blood. This hurts less and causes less scarring on your fingers.
Many blood glucose meters come with lancing devices. However, there are quite a few lancets on the market, so shop around if you don’t like the one that came with your meter or if you want more than one. Some allow you to prick sites other than your fingers. Others are designed for people who have trouble drawing blood or who have sensitive or calloused skin. Still others have retractable needles or easy disposal systems. Different lancets produce different sizes of blood drops. Make sure the device you are considering will help you get a drop of blood that is large enough for your meter.
Lancets are sterile the first time only, so don’t share lancets or lancing devices. Lancets can become dull after multiple uses, making future fingersticks more painful, so change them when needed to fit your comfort level.
Not all lancets fit all devices, so do your homework. Make sure that you can easily get replacement lancets to fit your device. Check the prices for replacement lancets as you compare devices.
Test Strips
Test strips are disposable strips that take a sample of blood. You insert a test strip into a meter to get a digital reading of your blood glucose level. Test strips are made to work with specific meters, so you’ll need to buy the appropriate brand and type.
Here are some things to consider when purchasing a meter and test strips. Some test strips are designed with a curve to help patients guide their fingers more easily to the application site. Other test strips are extra large to make them easier to handle. The packaging of the test strips may also be an important consideration for you. Some come packaged in a vial, whereas others are individually wrapped in foil. The foil wrappings can be more portable, but also more difficult to open. Some meters take a testing “disc” (containing enough room for multiple blood samples) or a drum with preloaded strips.
You’ll want to research the price of test strips as you consider which blood glucose meter to purchase (see more on this topic below). Test strips usually come in boxes of 50 or 100, and you can buy them online or in stores. The box of test strips will have an expiration date, and individually packaged strips usually last about 2 years. In the past, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration uncovered schemes to distribute counterfeit test strips. Always buy your strips from a reputable retailer, and check the FDA website (www.fda.gov) for updates on test strips or call the manufacturer if you have any concerns.
Sometimes, in rare cases, people who take certain medications containing sugars that aren’t glucose or who are undergoing medical procedures may receive false high readings with certain strips. Be sure to discuss your strips with your health care provider if you are put on a new medication or if there is a change in your health status.
Generic Test Strips
You can also buy generic brands of test strips that are manufactured to work with specific meters. Make sure that the generic brand lists your meter on the packaging or in the product information.
Test Strip Storage
Test strips should be stored in their covered container and kept in a dry area. Not keeping your strips safe and dry could affect their accuracy. For example, keeping strips in the bathroom with the container uncovered may result in false blood glucose readings.
Blood Glucose Meters
If your doctor has told you that you need to frequently self-check your blood glucose, then a blood glucose meter is an essential tool for taking care of your diabetes. Only by keeping close tabs on your blood glucose levels and recognizing when they are out of range can you take steps to remedy the situation.
The meter measures an electric current in the blood that depends on the amount of glucose present. A sample of blood is placed on a small area of a test strip or disk. A special enzyme transfers electrons from glucose to a chemical in the strip, and the meter measures this flow of electrons as current. The amount of current depends on how much glucose is in the blood. This weak current flows through the strip and is measured in the meter. The meter produces an electronic reading of blood glucose levels in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl).
There are also several meters that check more than blood glucose. One meter measures blood glucose and ketones (a byproduct that can indicate a serious medication problem). Another meter measures blood glucose, ketones, and lipids (including HDL and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides).
Plasma Versus Whole Blood
Meters measure the amount of glucose in whole blood, which is the complete composition of the blood flowing through the body. More simply, whole blood is the blood that is directly drawn from the body without further treatment. Several blood-glucose testing methods, however, measure the glucose contained in blood plasma. Plasma is a yellow liquid component of whole blood that has to be separated from blood using laboratory methods. The issue is that tests yield different blood glucose results when performed on whole blood versus blood plasma. Plasma test results tend to be 10–15% higher than results from whole blood.
Even though they measure the glucose levels in whole blood, today’s meters are adjusted to provide results in the plasma glucose equivalent, so blood glucose test results are consistent among all testing measures.
The sheer number of blood glucose meters on the market can be overwhelming. But the good news is that consumers now have more choices than ever in finding a device that fits their budget and lifestyle. Considerations for a blood glucose meter break down into roughly three categories: cost, performance, and your lifestyle. The following section will explore each category in detail.
Considerations for Buying a Blood Glucose Meter
• Cost: Insurance coverage, price of test strips
• Performance: Accuracy, batteries, and meter replacement
• Lifestyle: Meter size, your vision and language, test site, user-friendliness, meter memory, and data management system
Cost Considerations
The cost of your blood glucose meter should be a consideration as you research different brands. Your health insurance may cover the cost of a meter and maybe the test strips. Meters are usually deeply discounted by the manufacturer through rebates and coupons, but you’ll want to analyze the long-term costs of any meter and the strips before you purchase it.
Insurance Coverage
Check with your insurance plan or company health program before you invest in a meter. For example, Medicare covers the cost of meters, СКАЧАТЬ