Things to know before using Testing Strips

What is Diabetes Mellitus ? Diabetes mellitus, also commonly referred to as diabetes is a chronic, lifelong condition that affects ability of your body to use the energy derived from food. There are about three primary kinds of diabetes that people suffer from:

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes

Gestational Diabetes

All types of diabetes mellitus have something in common. Normally, your body breaks down the sugars and carbohydrates you consume into a special sugar referred to as glucose. Glucose works towards fuelling your body cells. However, the cells require insulin (hormone) in your bloodstream to get glucose utilize it for energy. When an individual suffers from diabetes mellitus, the body either doesn't make enough insulin or is unable to produce insulin or a combination of both.

The Testing Strips for diabetes will allow you test your blood sugar safely at home. This is the best way to monitor your blood sugar levels. The test strips are made from plastic. The last part of the strip is usually covered with enzymes. Dehydrogenise or glucose is the most common enzymes used to coat diabetes testing strips.
Here are certain things you require considering prior to buying testing strips:

The Price

Since testing strips are the costliest elements in the process of, you need to know the amount of money involved. The diabetic test strips are a monthly expense for you. So try to get these from a place where you get the lowest price. You need to research online to get compatible yet affordable testing strips for your glucose monitor.

Expiration Date

The glucose meter readings can be useless if your test strips cross expiration date. Hence, you need to always check the dates before buying them.

Coding

Many diabetic meters can coded for each batch or vial. The newer monitors don't need any coding. Make sure you look for "no coding" if you wish to avoid the coding system.

Read more for knowing about Testing Strips.

Continue

Benefits of using Glucose Blood Meter

Testing blood glucose on a regular basis is the base for effective diabetes management. However, readings may fluctuate based on the amount of insulin, diet regime, and exercise one indulges in at any given point of time. Many people across the globe have started integrating the regime of using continuous monitoring devices at home. However, many still shirk away from their glucose testing obligation. But this perception towards diabetes testing should be avoided.

The Glucose Meters can help you and your doctor assess the fluctuations in glucose levels of body. This is definitely a resource you should gather information about and incorporate the practice in your daily life. This is especially important if you have been facing problems with continually high periods of glucose (hyperglycemia). Patients with low levels of glucose (hypoglycemia) should also use this.

These days, with easy accessibility to a number of glucose meters available on the market, there’s no reason you should avoid the vital process of keeping a check on blood glucose levels. Since the Glucose Blood Meter allows you to test glucose levels within the privacy of your home, these are very useful to know how a specific exercise regime or diet plan is faring. You would be able to understand how different activities interfere in your glucose levels. This will also help your doctor assess the readings and offer you a diet plan accordingly.

The info is very helpful for entire healthcare team to understand the best way to adjust timing, diet plan, physical activities, and insulin to balance glucose levels in a better way. All this is possible via using Glucose Blood Meters and monitoring glucose level at regular intervals.

To sum up, glucose meters are a boon for diabetes patients.

Continue

Undertaking the Glucometer Test – The Steps Involved

Health care practitioners usually recommend their patients to keep a check glucose levels regularly. In fact, this is an obligatory routine diabetics must maintain at any cost. Doctors prepare a schedule for patients wherein they mention perfect diet, exercise regimen, and treatment to help maintain a healthy body. The schedule is based on glucose readings. This means that the patient needs to be comfortable with the idea of self testing glucose levels in the body. Blood Test for Sugar is not a difficult process as one can do it within the privacy of home in no time! Using Glucometer will help.

What’s the Process?

Prepare the Lancet

First and foremost, you must prepare the lancet device. The device will prick your skin. So you need to insert a lancet into the device and then push down until you hear a click.

The Steps Involved

Step 1

As soon as you hear a click, twist the top off the lancet to make the needle visible. Make sure you maintain a distance from lancet button to avoid accidental pushing.

Step 2

The glucose strips box will have a unique code. Take a strip out of the container and close it back immediately to avoid ruining other strips.

Step 3

You must push the glucose strip into the glucometer to get a pre-coded data. Proceed to the next step of you get info similar to that of the box code. In case, there’s a difference, you must change it through pushing the button on the left side.

Step 4

Choose the pressure setting on the lancet glucometer. This is actually pressure you prefer to prick your skin. The normal range is from 1 to 5. Very low setting will not give results whereas too high will hurt. So you need to determine the setting that works best for you while undertaking a Diabetes Test.

Step 5

Select the area you wish to prick for diabetes test. Pull down the glucometer lancet and slide on the area.

Step 6

Take the glucometer to blood source and hold it against the glucose strip. Allow the strip to absorb blood. You will soon see a symbol being displayed in the glucometer window. This is to indicate whether or not it has adequate blood to process. The glucose level will soon be displayed on the window.

Continue

Diabetes Glucose Meter Strips Buying Guide

Once you have bought a blood glucose monitor to keep tabs on your blood glucose levels, it is time you find out the best compatible Diabetes Glucose Meter Strips. Also known as Diabetic Test Strips or Blood Sugar Test Strips, these tools contain chemicals that can react with the glucose present in your blood sample. Once you place a sample on the test strip, you should insert the strip into the monitor. This will give you results. Remember that each strip is used only once. They should be discarded soon after use. This also means you need to have plenty of them in hand.

Here are some tips to buy diabetes glucose meter strips:

Expense

Understand that over time, test strips can make for the most expensive part of monitoring blood sugar process. Hence, you should keep in mind the cost of compatible strips when selecting glucose monitor.

Number of Strips

Outdated diabetic test strips will affect accuracy of blood sugar readings. Hence, you must pay attention to the expiration date on the box. You should buy as many as you can use in that specific time period.

Blood Sample Size

The latest glucose meters available on the market will use only a small drop (may be only a speck) ranging from 0.3 to 1.5 microliters for reading. Choose your glucose monitor and blood sugar test strips accordingly.

Ease of Use

Of course, you would not like to spend an entire day or make a lot of efforts just to check out your glucose levels. It should be an easy job that does not consume a lot of time.

Generic

Buying generic strips can save you a lot of money. However, you need to check the box and make sure they work with your glucose monitor accurately prior to buying.

Continue

Understand Diabetes Diet Chart, Glucose Blood Meters and Insulin Pumps

According to a research, it has been proved that about 4.5 million people in India are victims of diabetes. The major reason behind this is irregular meal, stress, and a sedentary lifestyle. The disease is basically associated to metabolic wherein carbohydrates oxidation and glucose is not completely detected.

How important is a Diabetes Diet Chart for patients to lead healthy and happy life?

Meal plan of diabetic patient plays crucial role in maintaining blood glucose levels in the body. The doctor plans a diabetes diet chart based on the gender, age, weight, height, working, and lifestyle of the patient.

Most foods taken by the patient are converted into a type of sugar known as glucose during digestion. The bloodstream carries glucose through the body. Insulin, the hormone converts glucose into quick energy. It may even store it further use. In case, of a diabetic, the body is either incapable of making enough insulin or use it correctly. This is also the reason too much glucose is accumulated in the bloodstream.

When preparing a diabetes diet chart, the doctor usually guides patient on certain foods to avoid and those to include daily. Some of the most common foods a diabetic (both Type I and Type II) must avoid include excess amounts of salt, sugar, fats, red meat, conventional tea and coffee (not more than twice a day), high fat cheese, white flour and products made from white flour, whole milk, foods with a high glycemic index, white rice, potatoes, carrots, breads and banana.

The best foods to invite in your daily diet regime include lean fish, low fat milk, low fat yogurt, low fat cottage cheese, herbal teas, whole grains, whole wheat, soya breads, unpolished rice, bitter gourd juice, fenugreek seeds, Indian blackberry (jamun), garlic, onion, flaxseed, fibre, and antioxidants (green tea).

Apart from following a healthy diet, it is important for diabetics to check blood sugar levels regularly. This is possible via using certain devices such as insulin pumps, glucometers, and strips.

Understanding Insulin Pumps

The insulin pump is a special device for continuous insulin delivery. It comprises of a pump reservoir similar to that of an insulin cartridge, a computer chip, and AAA battery-operated pump. It facilitates user to control the precise amount of insulin being delivered.

Glucose Blood Meters

A glucometer is a technologically advanced medical device for determining the estimated concentration of glucose in the blood. It is a key ingredient of home blood glucose monitoring (HBGM) by diabetics mellitus or hypoglycemia.

For more knowing about Diabetes Diet click here

Continue

How to Choose the Best Glucometer in India?

Diabetics need a blood glucose meter. This is a small computerized device that is used to measure and display blood glucose level in the body. Many factors such as dietary habits, lifestyle, physical activities, stress, medications, and many other factors can affect your blood glucose level. Using a blood glucose meter always help in managing diabetes via tracking fluctuations caused due to these factors.

Varied types of monitor blood glucose devices are available in India, these days. It is important to choose one that fits your needs and lifestyle.

Right from basic models to more-advanced meters with latest features and options, you can choose from a variety of blood glucose meters and test strips. Here is how to choose the Best Glucometer to test your levels of blood glucose:

Know the Basics

It is important to know the basic prior to choosing a blood glucose meter. This can actually help to understand the basics of how meters function. In order to use blood glucose meters, one must insert one end of a test strip into the device. Thereafter, you need to prick a clean fingertip with lancet to draw a drop of blood. You need to touch the other end of the test strip to the blood and read the blood glucose level that appears on the screen. The readings offered by blood glucose meters are usually accurate. However, these meters can vary in features and functions.

Cost

Meters would definitely vary in price. Hence, you need to shop around before finalizing on one. Test strips are the most expensive part of monitoring. Figure out the type of strip that is most cost-effective for you.

User-friendly Features

Make sure you know about the ease of use before investing in a device. The Best Glucometer in India will be comfortable to hold, allows for easy numbers on the screen, drawing bold is easier and takes only a small a drop of blood to give results.

Maintenance

Strictly avoid buying high maintenance monitor blood gulucose device.

Support

Make sure the company gives the best customer care support. They should give you a toll-free number that you can reach out to and offer instant help when needed.

Click here for more info about Best Glucometer .

Continue

Important Aspects To Be Considered While Purchasing a Glucose Meter

All diabetic patients, whether suffering from type 1 or type 2 diabetes must regularly and constantly monitor their blood sugar levels in order to remain in a good state of health. Almost all diabetic patient realize the importance of testing their sugar levels in the blood but a majority of them are often confused as to which glucose meter is the best suitable for them.

When a person is first diagnose d with diabetes he rushes to the nearest chemists and purchase all his medication along with a Glucose Blood Meter kit. This purchase is made without considering the effectiveness of the meter kit.

Whenever a person purchases a diabetes Glucose Meter kit he must consider certain important aspects to ensure the effectiveness of the device.

While purchasing a Glucometer make sure to purchase the one that is dependable. It is not at all necessary that the most expensive meter is always the best. Besides choosing the one that suits your budget you must also make sure that it has maximum features that are suitable to your requirements. A glucose monitor kit that maintains a good balance between its cost and features should be considered the best.

When purchasing testing strips for the meter make sure that they are compatible with the measuring device. Some models are compatible with cheaper strips as compared to other models.

Nowadays you can purchase meters that are available with a memory that can store the results taken. But it is beneficial to maintain a written logbook so that you can show the results to your doctor and accordingly gather useful advice for further treatment.

Every time you use lancing device and lancets along with the glucometer make sure to use a fresh lancet to ensure less pain and hygiene as well as accurate results.

Continue

Careful Maintenance Of the Glucometer Is Important

Whether a person suffers from type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes (diabetes mellitus), it is important for him to regularly carry out Blood Test for Sugar. Monitoring blood sugar levels or carrying out Diabetes Test at regular intervals is important and can be easily accomplished by making use of Glucometer. But before purchasing a Glucometer it is important to check its accuracy as well as the error percentage associated with the device.

According to the guidelines established by the IOS or International Organization of Standards it has been stated that most of these devices are accurate only 95% of the time. Since these meters are used to test the overall blood sugar levels, therefore, it is important to take care of this device. This means you should keep it in a proper place, especially when you leave it at home.

But besides taking care of the device there are several other factors that should be taken into consideration. There are many external factors that can greatly affect the accuracy of this device. Storing it under proper temperatures and away from humid places is important. Just like you store your other supplies make sure to keep the glucose meter in a cool and dry place. A Glucometer works well when stored at temperatures ranging between 50 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit or 10 to 40 degrees Celsius. If in case you are carrying your glucose meter along with you then make sure not to leave it in a locked car as a locked car becomes much hotter than the defined range.

Even the size and quality of blood samples being tested can also affect the readings. Keeping the meter clean using strips that are unexpired makes a lot of difference. Keep these factors in mind to increase the efficiency of your glucose meter.

Continue

Understanding How Diabetic Testing Strips Produce Accurate Results

Diabetes Blood Sugar Test Strips have made it easy for diabetic patients to test their blood sugar levels on their own on a regular basis. The Blood Sugar Testing Strips that were patented in 1996 have proved to be quite beneficial to the medical community. With the advancement in technology, the usage of diabetic strips has also advanced.  Basically they are still the same as they were created originally. These strips consist of a chemically treated paper that is commonly coated with mediators and enzymes. These coenzymes and indicators react according to the level of glucose in the blood and in turn provide an electronic reading on the monitor of the glucometer in which it is placed. It produces accurate results with the help of a small sample of blood, usually only one or two drops.

In the beginning the strip used to display a color that had to be matched with a predefined chart. But these results were not accurate as diabetic patients are usually associated with poor vision and can misjudge the color. However with the advancement in technology the results are now displayed digitally and are more accurate. This has made it easier for patients to test glucose levels easily and more accurately.

But it is important to purchase quality medical supplies from renowned companies to ensure accurate results. Storing testing strips properly is also important. If opened these strips should be placed in a closed vial or a foil wrapper and that too at room temperature. Since these strips are disposable, therefore users should use them only once and should be discarded properly.

Besides monitoring blood glucose levels using glucometer and testing strips it is also important for a diabetic person to follow a proper diabetes diet in order to remain healthy and active.

Continue

What are Diabetes Test Strips and How Do They Work?

Today diabetes glucose meter strips has made it possible for diabetic patients to manage this disease on their own. Diabetic Test Strips are revolutionary products that hve been developed and improved since past several years to give exact results and allow people suffering from diabetes to control it and lead a healthy life.

Blood sugar test strips being used by people today are based on the detection technology known as blood analyte levels. This was applied for a patent in 1994 and got the approval in 1996. Kevin J. Phillips is the first inventor of these diabetic strips.

In the beginning it was difficult for people suffering from diabetes to test their blood sugar levels on their own. This difficulty was because of the complicated equipments that were necessary to find the analytes present in the human blood originally. The equipments that were used originally were known as spectroscopic and spectroscopy equipments that were too big in size and were quite expensive to be effectively used by an individual for himself.

Diabetes test strips earlier used to change color due to the occurrence of a chemical reaction that takes place between the chemicals present in the blood and the chemicals present on the strip. The change in color indicated the level of glucose in the human blood. A standard scale was mentioned on a chart and the diabetic patient had to simply match the color of the testing strip with the color mentioned on the chart to know his glucose levels.

It is important to use good quality strips and to check the expiry date before purchasing. Expired strips produce incorrect test results. Therefore, strips taken out from a package should be used within a specific period of time and should be opened only when the patient is ready for the test.

Continue

Understanding The Exact Working Of A Glucometer

Glucometers are small battery-operated devices that help diabetic patients monitor blood glucose levels anywhere and at anytime easily and conveniently. These glucometers work by testing a drop of blood that the patient places on a disposable test strip. Nowadays glucometers are being used by almost every diabetic patient to test glucose levels in blood every day. These glucose meters are smaller in size and help produce fast and accurate results. With passing time tehse glucose meters are improving and getting more sophisticated.

Many of the glucometers available in the market nowadays include various additional features such as expanded memory that helps store blood results. It also records insulin dosage and are computer compatible. Using a companion software package a person can analyze the data collected and decide upon medication dosages, food, exercise and more.

As compared to the devices used before, glucometers being used in today’s age are much smaller in size and are capable of producing faster and much more accurate results. Glucometers being used today allow better glycemic control than instruments that were used in the past.

A variety of Glucometers available in the market today can be largely differentiated on the basis of several features. These features include size of blood sample required, memory capability, testing time, ability to download results into the software used to manage collected data and the capability to perform diabetes tests from alternate sites such as thighs or forearms. Besides being common amongst diabetic patients these devices are also used by doctors at their clinics.

But in order to ensure accurate results a person must purchase the best glucometer available in the market. The best glucometer in India can be easily purchased by renowned companies and that too online from the comfort of home or office.

Continue

Manage Diabetes With a Proper Diabetes Diet Plan

All diabetic patients are recommended to monitor their blood sugar levels using glucose blood meters and insulin pumps. But to lead a healthy life diabetic patients are also recommended to follow a proper diabetes diet plan. Eating healthy food will help stay active if the patient strictly follows the diabetes diet meal plan suggested by the consultant physician.

When a diabetic patient begins to follow a diet plan he should first write down everything that he eats and should make it a point to check his blood sugar levels both before and after meals. This will give the patient a chance to see how different food items included in the diet will affect his blood sugar levels. Jotting down the changes in the diet is a good practice and must be followed by all diabetic patients when he begins to follow a diet plan or whenever his treatment changes.

Carbohydrates along with fats and protein contribute a great deal to produce energy for the human body. These constituents in the diet greatly elevate blood glucose levels in the bloodstream. Therefore, it is suggested that a diabetic patient should consume these constituents in small quantities in his diet. A diabetic patient should consume food items that include all types of nutrients but in smaller quantities that the body of a diabetic patient can tolerate and help trigger energy levels.  

All types of diabetic patients, whether diet-controlled, insulin-dependent or oral medication should make it a point to follow a proper diabetes diet. Usually the diet doesn’t suggest people to lose weight but any activity that helps lose weight will help diabetic patients lead an active life. In fact in some cases losing weight in large amounts will help the patient consume lesser amount of medication or may be no medication at all.

Continue

Some Useful Facts About Diabetes Mellitus?

Before a diabetic patient begins his medication to treat diabetes it is important for a diabetic patient to understand what is diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes that is also known as diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease which occurs in a human body when the insulin being produced by the pancreas are unable to reduce the glucose levels in the blood. Diabetic condition also appears when the pancreas does not produce enough quantity of insulin. Insulin plays a major role in taking glucose from the blood to the body cells of different organs that produces energy. If the glucose levels are too high in the blood then it will be easily eliminated by the kidneys through urine. Besides diabetes mellitus there is another type of diabetes known as gestational diabetes that usually occurs in pregnant women.

There are no specific symptoms to diagnose type 2 diabetes. Usually increased urination, thirst and appetite might occur if a person is diagnosed of diabetes. Along with this fatigue, blurred vision, infections and erectile dysfunctions can also be considered as symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

This type of diabetes is diagnosed by a doctor after conducting some tests. After the patient has been diagnosed with diabetes he will be advised to keep his sugar levels under control. Nowadays doctors advise patients to test sugar levels in blood on their own. This can be done using a glucometer along with testing strips. The doctor will also provide the patient with a specific diet plan that will help him know what to eat and how much and also what to avoid. The doctor will also advise the patient as to where can he purchase his diabetes supplies from.

Simply search online to find several suppliers who readily supply diabetes supplies at your doorsteps.

Continue

Knowing about Diabetes and Maintaining Regular Blood Sugar Check Routine

"Diabetes mellitus," commonly referred to as "diabetes," is a health condition that leads to rise of sugar in the blood to very dangerous levels.

About Diabetes

Diabetes can be mainly categorized into two types:

Type-1

This is a serious and complicated type of diabetes because the pancreatic beta cells become completely defective or dead. This deters production of insulin. One requires getting lifelong insulin injections to maintain normal blood sugar.

Type-II

About 90 per cent of diabetics are categorized into this group. The body produce little or defective insulin. Following proper diet and exercise will help them lead a healthy lifestyle.
Here is a list of symptoms that may be an indication of diabetes:

Loss of Weight

The cells are unable to use glucose and stored fats are disintegrated by the body to feed cells. This makes a person lose weight.

Weakness

The body breaks up stored muscle-protein to feed starving cells. This causes undue weakness and body ache.

Fatigue and Lack of Concentration

The brain-cells are dependent on glucose for nourishment. However, diabetes does not allow them to use the available glucose. Hence, the individual experiences mental fatigue, loss of memory, and is unable to concentrate.

Slow or No Healing

Diabetes tends to affects the small blood vessels and nerves. This results in decrease of blood-supply of the skin. Hence, even a small wound will catch infection and does not heal quickly.

Severe Itching

The patient experiences skin infections, especially around genital area. Women usually suffer from vaginal and urinary tract infections.

Vision

As the internal fluid glucose concentration of the eyes changes, the focusing power experiences variation. Hence, a diabetic needs to change his spectacle lenses very often.

Sexual Weakness

The symptom arises due to general weakness, depression, and disintegration of muscle-protein.

Diabetic Unconsciousness

Also referred to as hyperglycemic coma, the symptom makes the patient fall into a state of unconsciousness as the body disintegrates stored fats in order to feed starving cells. The process results in ketone body production in the blood in excess and unconsciousness.

Diabetes Blood Sugar Test

Remember that a specific amount of sugar is present in the blood always. This is also very necessary. In case of diabetes, the blood-sugar level rises and reaches above the normal (physiological limits).

Other Symptoms

• Increased thirst
• Dryness of mouth
• Excessive and frequent urination
• Excessive hunger

It is crucial to undertake blood sugar test using special devices to detect the amount of sugar present in the blood. Here is the list of common blood sugar test done:

1. Glucose tolerance test
2. Fasting blood sugar and Post-prandial blood-sugar
3. Glutamate Acid Di-carboxylase test
4. Glycosylated haemoglobin test
5. Stress Glucose tolerance test

Continue

Can Exercise Really Cure Diabetes?

Diabetes is caused when the body is unable to produce or use insulin. Insulin which is responsible for the breakdown of sugar in blood cannot perform its functions when diabetes sets in. This results in high blood sugar levels. If left untreated, diabetes can give rise to many complications. Fortunately, medical science has come up with many ways to cure this wretched disease. Doctors recommend a controlled diet and exercise regimen as the best way to keep diabetes under control.

Why Exercise?

Exercise has always been thought of as the way to keep the human body in proper shape. Many people also exercise to keep numerous diseases at bay. With proper exercise it is also possible to ward off the symptoms of diabetes altogether. People leading sedentary lives develop a high risk of contracting diabetes.  Coupled with improper diet, the lack of exercise can effectively make the body resistant to insulin. Higher concentration of fat cells in the body is said to slow down the absorption of insulin and in turn increase blood sugar levels.

Advantages of Exercise

Working out burns excess fat reserves and thus promotes the absorption of insulin. It also improves your muscular strength, stamina and promotes cardiovascular wellbeing. Diabetes often gives way to many heart diseases. Exercising lowers cholesterol levels and promotes blood circulation effectively. Thus with regular exercise, you are able to protect and strengthen your heart as well as lower risks of diabetes.

What To Do?

If you’re suffering from diabetes, you are supposed to reduce your sedentary time and engage in physical activities. Working out for about 45 minutes daily will maintain your overall health and lower blood sugar levels at the same time. Include aerobics, swimming, jogging, running and some weight training in your exercise regimen. This way you will build strength and resistance at the same time.

The most effective way to stay on top of the disease is to constantly check your blood sugar levels. Blood glucose monitors available in all chemist shops can provide accurate readings. Such prompt readings can help you alter your treatment accordingly. 

Continue