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When diagnosed with Diabetes, regular maintenance and monitoring become a normal part of the everyday routine. Glucose is sugar in the blood, and in patients with diabetes, it's extremely important that these levels are monitored because too much or too little insulin is being produced to keep the glucose levels controlled. Thanks to such supplies as glucose testing strips, it has never been easier or more efficient to test for glucose levels at home. Keep in mind that these testing strips are just one of the methods for checking blood sugar levels and can become part of a larger plan for maintaining and treating the condition.
Advantages to Using Glucose Testing StripsGlucose testing strips require a small amount of blood, making them less threatening than some other testing procedures. Results are provided within seconds so that it's easy to test blood sugar levels throughout the day. In fact, it's recommended that people use glucose testing strips in the morning and evening, as well as before eating a meal and two hours after a meal. Another advantage to using glucose testing strips is that they allow people to test in various places such as on the forearm, fingers, thigh, calf or palm. This avoids repeated exposure to the same site and also allows people to find the most comfortable spot to draw blood.
Using a Glucose Testing StripIn the first few attempts at drawing blood, the process can seem scary. Products like glucose testing strips make the process more patient-friendly and require only a small sample of blood, usually around 0.3 to 0.6 microliters. Most products also don't require an elaborate coding system, making it faster and easier to get a reading. To eliminate the need for coding, most glucose testing strips are used with a blood glucose meter sold separately. The strips will also include some type of window that lets you know when the strip has been filled with blood, and results should be up in about five to ten seconds. The strips come in large quantities as well, making them a cost-effective and practical choice for keeping tabs on blood sugar levels.
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Keep an Eye on Your Levels?
Diabetics need to monitor their blood glucose levels to prevent them from falling too low or rising too high. You can keep a check on your glucose levels by using a testing machine and test strips. The machine is sold at retail stores and pharmacies and you do not need a prescription to buy it.
What are the differences between different types of diabetes testing equipment?
Home blood glucose test measures the amount of a type of glucose in the body. It involves using testing strips, where you place a drop of blood to determine glucose levels.
How does the ACCU check glucose meters?
ACCU checks glucose meters by a blood glucose meter devise. The product comes with SmartView test strips and a one-click lancing devise to monitor blood sugar levels.
The Chemistry Of Glucose Testing Strips?
Glucose testing strips have given diabetics the ability to test glucose levels in the blood from any location with very little effort. The disposable strips are read by a special device that can use one of two different methods to determine the glucose levels of the blood. A glucose testing strip is just one of the items that must be used with a glucose testing meter. The other item is a disposable needle known as a lancet that actually draws the drop of blood for the testing strip from the finger or arm. A glucose testing strip is covered in a number of chemicals and enzymes. The exact combination can vary depending on the meter or the proprietary formula of the manufacturer. The strips most commonly contain either glucose oxidase or glucose dehydrogenase. These enzymes will interact with the glucose in the blood on the testing strip along with other chemicals mixed with the enzymes. One possible result of the combination is a colored stain on the test strip. The other possibility is that the glucose and the chemicals will be converted into a conductive material called ferricyanide. Glucose testing strips that rely on changing colors are fed into a glucose meter. This meter uses a light and a sensor to measure the reflectivity of the stain on the end of the strip. The exact color of the chemical reaction can then be judged electronically and the blood glucose level can be determined. Glucose testing strips that create ferricyanide are fed into a glucose meter that sends an electrical current through the end of the strip. A higher level of glucose in the blood means that the strip will be more conductive and will allow more electricity to pass through. The measurement of the current determines the glucose level that is displayed. The accuracy and convenience of glucose testing strips has slowly increased over the years. The amount of blood that is required to cause a reaction on each strip has also been reduced dramatically. Hospitals even use a version of testing strips that allow many patients to be tested in sequence. The results from the device are wireless transmitted to hospital computers.
Which brand of blood glucose monitors requires the cheapest strips?
You can use a lifescan glucose monitor. They older models of glucose monitors use strips while the newer models are digital.
What diabetes test strips are compatible with other diabetes testing machines?
The diabetes test strips that are compatible with testing machines include Accu-Chek Active Blood Glucose test strips, Bayer Corporation Contour 50's Test strips, and Bayer Breeze 2 Blood Glucose Test Strips. All of which come in a 50 count box. You can visit www.libertymedical.com/testing to receive test strips.
Diabetic Test Strips?
Diabetes Test Strips are used with blood glucose meters to measure the blood glucose levels of an individual's blood. Test strips can be expensive, but most insurance plans cover the costs of blood glucose testing.
What exactly are diabetic strips?
Diabetic strips are thin plastic pieces that are inserted into a blood glucose monitor. This is how you can find out your glucose level in your blood. http://www.ehow.com/about_4602102_diabetic-test-strips.html#ixzz1PSr1cS1H
Choose Blood Glucose Strip Brands Carefully?
There are many options available to diabetics who purchase their own blood glucose strips, so they should carefully read the product descriptions to ensure that the glucose testing strips they are purchasing will work with their meter. Most meter manufacturers offer their own lines of testing strips, but all of the strips they offer may not work with every type of meter sold by that manufacturer. There are some universal testing strips that can be read by different meters manufactured by different companies.
How To Get a Free Glucose Monitor?
Many people have heard of glucose monitors, either from friends or from commercials that offer a free glucose monitor for diabetics. However, many people still do not know or understand what a glucose monitor is used for.A glucose monitor is used to determine the glucose level in someone's blood. A diabetic will simply take a drop of their blood and place it on a specially designed test strip that interfaces with the glucose meter. After a few seconds, the level of glucose in the person's bloodgluwill show up on the digital screen.People Who Use a Glucose MonitorDiabetics know that a glucose monitor is an essential in their daily life. A glucose monitor is used on a daily basis by individuals with diabetes, although some diabetics have to check their glucose level more often than others. In fact, diabetics who have to take insulin must check their glucose more often, from three to 10 times a day.How Can I Get a Free Glucose Monitor?Diabetics with good insurance can often get a free glucose monitor from their doctor without paying for it out-of-pocket. If they do have to pay for it, insurance typically covers the majority of the cost, making it very affordable. It is not quite this simple for diabetics who have no insurance, and glucose monitors can be expensive.Those who do not have insurance shouldn't worry, however. There are ways to get a free glucose monitor. Many companies that make or sell diabetes testing supplies offer a free glucose monitor to those who need it. Some drugstores and pharmacies also have free glucose monitors. There are even commercials on TV that advertise free glucose monitors. Those who are looking for a free glucose monitor should simply look for coupons and deals online, and they will eventually find a free glucose monitor.After finding a free glucose monitor, it is important to purchase test strips to use with it. With a variety of free glucose monitor offers around, the biggest expense in diabetes testing are test strips, which are difficult to find for discounted prices.
What do pool strips test for?
MANY different things. The standard set of strips test for: Chlorine levels Alkalinity levels (pH) Acidity levels (pH) Stabiliser Salinity levels (if testing in salt water chlorinated pools)
A Diabetes Meter Is An Essential Tool?
A diabetes meter, also referred to as a blood glucose monitor, is the most important tool a person diagnosed with diabetes can have for understanding and treating their condition. Combined with keeping track of meter readings in a log and a book that details the nutrient components of foods, the meter will provide information needed to help a person keep blood glucose levels under control. The monitor operates by measuring glucose circulating in the bloodstream at the time of the test. Once the meter is turned on, a fresh glucose testing strip should be removed from its container and inserted into the monitor. A special device called a lancet is used to quickly poke a tiny hole in the side of a finger. By touching the end of the testing strip to the small bead of blood that appears, the sample is sucked up into the strip. In seconds, a number appears on the screen. This is the current glucose level; a snapshot in time. Levels vary from second to second throughout the day and night and show higher levels after eating. Free meters may be offered by the doctor's office upon diagnosis. If a person has medical insurance, the company may offer a free meter. Insurance companies usually have preferred meters, so it is important to know which meters they will support with provided or discounted blood glucose strips. When money is a consideration for someone without insurance, often the expense of testing strips will determine their choice of a meter. Testing strips can be very expensive. Meters vary in size and their features can range from simple models to others that upload readings directly to a computer. Check store brands of meters and strips as they are usually cheaper and may have been manufactured by name brand companies. It is not enough to simply take readings. Learning when and how often to test, what the numbers mean, and how various foods effect glucose levels will provide valuable information to manage diabetes. It is through utilizing this information and making the concerted effort to lower glucose levels that a diabetic person will avoid organ damage and live a healthier life.
