What Are Blood Glucose Meters and How Do They Work?

Are you diabetic? If so, you are one of the 38.4 million Americans who have the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In this scenario, your doctor must have recommended you use a blood glucose meter to check your blood glucose levels or BGL. This way, you can keep track of your sugar levels on a day-to-day basis and get your therapeutic regimen updated depending on your needs. But what are blood glucose meters?

In this article, let us learn about the blood glucose meters in terms of what they are and how they work. In addition, let us also learn about some of the best brands available in the market.

What are Blood Glucose Meters?

Blood glucose meters, also known as glucometers, are portable devices that measure a person’s blood glucose (sugar) level. These are often used by diabetic patients to estimate their BGL. As the system is simple to use, it can also be used in home settings by the patient or a caregiver.

How to Use Blood Glucose Meters?

Using blood glucose meters is easy as their construction is simple and operation is uncomplicated. These are designed by keeping in mind the vast majority of diabetic patients who must be able to not only use the device properly but also interpret the result. Here is a step-by-step guide on how you should use blood glucose meters:

Select an Ideal Time

If you are diabetic, the American Diabetic Association (ADA) suggests checking the blood sugar level at the following time periods:

• After you wake up (fasting state)
• At bedtime
• Before having a meal or a snack
• Before doing exercise
• When you experience the symptoms of hypoglycemia
• Before or after doing critical tasks such as driving
• After getting treatment for hypoglycemia

Arrange Everything You Need

To measure the blood glucose level of a patient, you will require the following items:

• A new lancet
• A lancing device
• Blood glucose meter
• New test strips
• Alcohol pad
• Dry tissue or gauze pad
• Blood glucose log (for recording the displayed BGL data)
• A trash can
• Sharps container (to hold the used lancets)

Wash Your Hands

Before using blood glucose meters, it is standard practice (for the patients) to wash your hands thoroughly using soap and clean water. This is because any traces of food or other substances on your fingers can alter the BGL reading.

Take Blood Sample

The traditional blood glucose meters work by checking your blood sugar level in a drop of blood. This blood sample is collected by pricking your finger using a sterile needle called a lancet. A lancing device is used to hold this needle, keep it sterile until use, and release it for pricking. To collect a blood sample, select a target pricking site.

Then, clean the tip of the finger with an alcohol swab or wipes. This kills all the germs present on the skin. After cleaning, hold the finger and prick with the lancet. Remember to never squeeze the finger too hard. Also, taking a blood sample from the sides of your finger is recommended.

Load the Sample on the Test Strip

Once a drop of blood appears on the puncture site, transfer it to a disposable test strip inserted into a blood glucose meter. This can be done by simply touching the edge of the test strip to the blood drop on your finger.

These test trips come in a container and must only be taken out at the time of use to prevent contamination. As test strips are single-use items like lancets, these must be discarded after one employment. In addition, always check the expiry date on the test strips before using them.

Measurement and Displaying of BGL Reading

The blood glucose meters read the single from the blood sample on the test strip and generate a blood sugar level reading which is then displayed on the screen. The results might take a few seconds to appear.

If the reading does not appear at all, there might be an issue with the battery of your blood glucose meter. Either consider replacing it or use another device.

How Do Blood Glucose Meters Work?

Chemically, the test strips used for blood sugar level measurement contain glucose oxidase, an enzyme that reacts with the glucose present in the blood sample. As a result of this reaction, an electrical signal is generated that is detected by the blood glucose meter.

Keep in mind that calibrating blood glucose meters from time to time ensures that the devices are capable of detecting and interpreting the intensity of this signal. This means, that the stronger the reaction between the glucose and glucose oxidase enzyme, the higher will be the signal. As a result, the value of the blood sugar level will also be higher.

Blood Glucose Meters at Health Supply 770: Features and Specifications

The blood glucose levels of a diabetic patient can give crucial information about their disease state. Therefore, checking them is recommended by the doctors. This can be done by using blood glucose meters that are portable, easy-to-use devices.

When it comes to learning about what are blood glucose meters, it is also essential to look into some of the products that many brands manufacture. Some of these well-known brands are also available at Health Supply 770 and have been detailed below along with their features and purchase links:

Roche Accu-Chek® Guide Blood Glucose Meter

US$62.88 to $620.88

Product Details

Roche Accu-Chek® Guide blood glucose meters are ideal for the quantitative estimation of blood glucose levels for a single patient. These can be used on the fingers, pal, as well as upper arms for collecting the fresh capillary blood sample. The product comes with two 3-volt coin-cell batteries as its power source.

Moreover, these Roche Accu-Chek® Guide blood glucose meters provide BGL results within 4 seconds. The usage process is easy even for first-time users. As a spill-resistant SmartPack has been designed for the test strips, these remain clean and free from contaminants until the time of use.

Furthermore, these Roche Accu-Chek® Guide blood glucose meters also carry a backlit display that helps visualize the BGL results even during nighttime. The accuracy of the system is also guaranteed. Once the reading has been taken, the used test strip can be ejected out of the glucometer with a single push button.

OneTouch Ultra Plus Flex Meter

US$47.88

Product Details

OneTouch Ultra Plus flex meter is a blood glucose level monitoring system that allows seamless monitoring. The product is known to give accurate and reliable results when employed by diabetic patients. The accuracy of the system can be estimated by the fact that each blood sample is checked 500 times by the device before giving a result.

Moreover, these OneTouch Ultra Plus flex meters have a user-friendly design that allows flexibility in testing, especially for first-time users. The results are displayed within no time which helps the healthcare provider to adjust your therapeutic regimen accordingly.

GUIDEME Accu-Chek Guide ME Meter Care Kit

US$22.88

Product Details

GUIDEME Accu-Chek Guide ME meter care kits are blood glucose monitoring systems that are known for their reliability as well as accuracy. This device comes with a spill-resistant SmartPack vial that keeps the test strips germ-free until the time of use. It is recommended to never leave the vial open once you have taken a strip out.

Moreover, these GUIDEME Accu-Chek Guide ME meter care kits have an Accu-Chek Guide ME blood glucose meter, an Accu-Chek Softclix lancing device, 10 Softclix lancets, an instructions guide, as well as a hard shell carrying case.

Furthermore, these GUIDEME Accu-Chek Guide ME meter care kits can store up to 720 diary records as well as 30 control results. The time required by the device to display the BGL results is less than 4 seconds. The display screen is wide and clear to ease the visualization process.

In addition, these GUIDEME Accu-Chek Guide ME meters automatically save results to the mySugr app on the smartphone that is connected to the device via Bluetooth.

GUIDEMTR Accu-Chek Guide Meter Kit Includes FastClix lancing Device with 6 Lancets (1 Drum)

US$47.88

Product Details

GUIDEMTR Accu-Chek Guide meter kit includes a FastClix lancing device that comes with 6 sterile lancets. The product comes with a lancing device for finger pricking. The components of the kit include an Accu-Chek Guide blood glucose meter, a FastClix lancing device, and a drum containing 6 lancets.

Moreover, these GUIDEMTR Accu-Chek Guide meter kits are quick and give results within 4 seconds. The system allows wireless app connectivity that displays results on the smartphone screen. A spill-resistant test strip container keeps the test strips protected from moisture as well as contamination.

Furthermore, these GUIDEMTR Accu-Chek Guide meter kits are easy to use and come with a proper usage guide. All the lancets are packed separately to maintain their sterility.

Glucocard Shine Connex Blood Glucose Meter Kit

US$48.88

Product Details

Glucocard Shine Connex blood glucose meter kits are one of the best blood glucose meters available in the US. Owing to their high accuracy which meets the standards set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), these devices are in their post-market surveillance phase.

Moreover, these Glucocard Shine Connex blood glucose meter kits come with several components including a Glucocard Shine Connex blood glucose meter, test strips, a lancing device, sterile lancets, as well as a carrying case to store all the components.

Additionally, these Glucocard Shine Connex blood glucose meters allow Bluetooth connectivity to the smartphone where the BGL readings can be visualized. The display is large and clear. These glucose meters are easy to use due to their no coding technology.

Diathrive Blood Glucose Meter

US$26.88

Product Details

Diathrive blood glucose meters are easy-to-use devices that require only 0.4 microliters of blood samples to estimate blood glucose levels. The results are displayed within 4 seconds on the large and clear, easy-to-display screen of the device.

Moreover, these Diathrive blood glucose meters have an averaging feature that calculates and displays average readings over 7, 14, 30, 60, or 90 days to help the patient visualize their BGL control over time.

*Note: The prices mentioned in the article are taken from the Health Supply 770 website. These may vary over time.

The blood glucose meters mentioned in this article, along with many other medical supplies, can be purchased from Health Supply 770, a reliable name when it comes to medical products. They have a 30-day money-back guarantee and provide your products to you in the shortest possible time. Click the link at the end of the article to check the wide range of blood glucose meters.

Conclusion

Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects a huge chunk of people worldwide. No matter how much people fear the disease, it is possible to keep their blood glucose levels in the target range and live a normal and healthy life. To do so, the patients need to keep track of their sugar levels which can be done by using blood glucose meters.

Blood glucose meters are the systems that sense the amount of glucose in a blood sample and display it on the screen. As a result, the patients can visualize and record their BGL values and consult their healthcare providers on ways to manage their condition effectively.

As blood glucose meters are a necessary item in healthcare facilities as well as home settings, these should be bought and kept in calibrated form to accommodate extensive use. For purchasing different types of blood glucose meters, reliable vendors like Health Supply 770 should be approached. They ensure the provision of quality products along with satisfactory services.

References

https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/php/data-research/index.html

https://professional.diabetes.org/sites/dpro/files/2023-12/usingabloodglucosemeter.pdf

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