American Diabetes Association Complete Guide to Diabetes. American Diabetes Association

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СКАЧАТЬ specific meters or have a cost allowance. Also find out if you are covered for the test strips and how many you are allowed per year. Your insurance may cover more of the cost of meters and strips through a mail-order program. However, you will need to get a prescription to be reimbursed.

      Price of Test Strips

      In the long run, your meter’s test strips will cost you much more than the meter itself. You may be surprised by the cost when you go to buy replacement strips for your meter. The meter that seemed like a bargain at the time of purchase may turn into a major expense when it comes time to pay for strips (especially if you don’t get reimbursed for them by your insurance). Make sure you check the cost of the strips your meter uses before you buy it. Check Diabetes Forecast’s Consumer Guide and ads for lists of companies that sell discounted strips.

      Performance Considerations

      The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates all meters made and distributed in the United States. Manufacturers are required to list devices with the FDA, as well as follow guidelines for marketing, labeling, safety, and efficacy. However, you—as the primary user—will be responsible for checking the performance of your meter over time.

      Accuracy

      Some machines require that you code each new batch of test strips with your meter in order to maintain accuracy (some do not). Test strips can vary from batch to batch. There may be differences in the amount of chemical on the strips in each batch. So you must standardize (or code) your meter to make up for these small differences when you open a new batch of strips. If you don’t code, all your results with the new strips may read higher or lower than they really are. Instructions for coding are included in every new package of strips. Some meters automatically code themselves—you don’t have to do anything when you open a new batch of strips or the disk.

      You’ll also want to check the accuracy of your meter from time to time. You can do this one of three ways: perform an electronic check, use a “control” solution or strip, or compare your meter with a laboratory meter.

      Your meter should perform an electronic check every time you turn it on. It will give you an error code if something is wrong. You can check the owner’s manual for instructions for correcting errors.

      Meters often provide a standard solution, known as a “control” solution. This solution contains a known amount of glucose to help check for accuracy. Other meters use a control strip to check for accuracy. If you measure the amount of glucose in this standard solution or strip in your meter and your meter shows a reading that is too high or too low, your machine may be giving you a faulty reading. The manufacturer’s instructions will tell you how often to check with the control solution or strip for the best accuracy.

      Write the date on your control solution when you open it and remember that it is usually good for one to three months, depending on the manufacturer.

      If you are having a problem with accuracy, first check to see if your problems are being caused by old or damaged test strips. Then call the manufacturer of your meter. There may be something wrong with your meter. You can usually order a vial of standard glucose solution by calling your meter’s manufacturer.

      In some cases, your health care provider can help you check the accuracy of your meter by using a laboratory meter in his or her office. Your health care provider might ask you to perform a blood glucose test just as you would on your own. Then, he or she might check your blood glucose using the laboratory machine. If the two results match, your meter is probably accurate.

      Other factors can affect the accuracy of your meter. Altitude, temperature, and humidity can have unpredictable effects on glucose results.

      In some cases, you, not the meter, may be giving inaccurate results. Researchers have found that practice, at least in the area of blood glucose monitoring, does not make perfect. Fresh from training by a diabetes educator, people start off getting accurate results. But as time goes by, people begin to get sloppy. Accuracy usually decreases over time.

      Take your meter with you for checkups, and ask your health care provider to observe your technique from time to time. Or measure your blood glucose level with your own meter when your blood is drawn for laboratory glucose tests. Record your results. The two readings are best compared when you are fasting. When your lab-tested blood results are available, compare the numbers.

      Comparing Home and Lab Results

      • Make sure that you are comparing plasma blood readings (not whole blood) from your meter to your lab results.

      • If your result was off by more than 5–10%, go over your technique with your diabetes educator or provider. If he or she can’t find any problems with your technique, it’s time to consider whether something may be wrong with your meter.

      Monitoring: Problem Areas to Watch

      • Your blood. Are you getting enough blood on the test strip? To increase blood flow, wash your hands in warm water, hang your hand down, and massage your hand from your palm out to your fingertip before pricking. You may find it less painful to prick the side of your finger rather than the fleshy pad. For some strips, once the drop is on the strip, you can’t add more blood. Washing your hands will also help prevent any perfumes or food residue from affecting your test results.

      • Test strips. Are your strips fresh? Be aware of the expiration date. Avoid exposing the strips to light and moisture. Are you coding your meter to each new batch of test strips? Variations occur from one batch to another, even when made by the same manufacturer.

      • Your meter. Check your meter regularly with the control solution specified by the meter’s manufacturer. Look in the instructions that came with the meter if you’ve forgotten the technique. If your meter can be cleaned, do it periodically. You may find a buildup of blood, dust, and lint that can affect the readings.

      Batteries and Meter Replacement

      Meters run on batteries, but each model handles batteries differently. Find out what kind of battery your meter takes before purchasing it. Consider the cost and ease of replacing the batteries.

      Some models allow you to buy the battery and insert it into the meter yourself. These batteries might be specific to the meter and therefore could be more expensive and difficult to find. Or these batteries might be standard batteries (such as AA or AAA) that run in devices like flashlights or remote controls and therefore are cheaper and easier to find. Still other meters have no replacement batteries.

      Most manufacturers will tell you how long the meter’s batteries will last. Some meters tell you when the battery needs replacing. Some companies will replace batteries for you, and others simply replace the whole meter.

      With daily use, batteries generally have to be replaced every 1,000 readings.

      Lifestyle Considerations

      Your lifestyle is one of the most important considerations for choosing a blood glucose meter. With so many meters on the market today, you are bound to find a meter with at least a few of your preferred features.

      Size

      Some glucose meters are so small that they fit on a vial of strips, while others are larger, so people with big hands can handle them easily. Small meters are easy to slip into your pocket or purse. However, if you have trouble with small hand and finger movements, you may want to consider a larger meter. Larger meters may be heavier and clumsy to carry around. Some meters have rubber grips that make СКАЧАТЬ