Blood Sugar Testing Supplies

Tools of the Trade-Blood Sugar Testing Supplies

From simple to elaborate, basic to buff, the diabetic’s most useful tools are those used for monitoring their blood glucose. These blood sugar testing supplies can range from standard finger stick lancets to high tech computerized blood sugar management systems. However, regardless of what you select, the most important thing is that you learn to utilize it correctly and that you take good care of the assorted blood sugar testing supplies. As a newly diagnosed diabetic, you are likely overwhelmed with the many changes taking place, and learning how to use your blood glucose testing supplies may seem a bit daunting. Nevertheless, don’t hit the panic button; your diabetes health care providers are there to help you to learn all you need to know about purchasing, using and maintaining all of your blood glucose testing supplies.

What Blood Sugar Testing supplies are needed?

The most important tool in the diabetic’s toolbox is the blood glucose test meter. It is used to check your blood sugar levels and to help you avoid hypo/hyperglycemia. When selecting a blood glucose test meter, be sure to choose one that fits your needs. Features to look for are size, readability, accuracy, memory capabilities and the cost of the test strips.

In the world of diabetes blood sugar testing supplies one of the smallest, yet most needful and costly, items are the test strips. These are the strips on which you place a small drop of blood and then place in the glucose meter where it read. You then use this reading to determine how much insulin you need.  A second type of strip is read visually and can be used to test your blood glucose level based on the color chart on the box. With practice, many people can read their blood sugar by sight as accurately as a meter.

Additional types of visually read strips to include in your toolbox of blood glucose testing supplies are those for urine ketones. While those are not recommended for daily use or in place of standard blood glucose test strips, they are helpful in detecting extreme amounts of sugar. It is important to note that ketone strips can take anywhere from 15 seconds to 2 minutes before they can be read.

Another blood glucose testing supply is the lancets, which are used to prick the finger so you can perform a blood glucose test. The lancets vary in size and not all lancets fit all blood glucose meters. Lancets frequently have 2 sizes of caps that regulate the depth of the puncture. Use the shallowest poke possible that will draw blood as it hurts less and there is not as much scaring.

Other blood sugar testing supplies are a logbook to track your daily blood glucose levels as well as notes about exercise, diet, injection sites, ketones or any progress/problems you are having; glucose tablets for use in emergency lows, and personal identification. To make it easier to travel, be sure you have a bag or carrying case for your blood glucose testing supplies as this will ensure that everything you need is always in one place.

Meters, lancets, test strips and more are all necessary items in the life of a diabetic. But without them, managing your diabetes would be more guesswork and less maintainable. So, build your blood glucose testing supplies kit and begin your trek to a richer fuller life---diabetes and all!

Diabetic Seniors Team

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