Blood Glucose Meters: Why Use Them?

Also known as blood glucose monitors, blood glucose meters are what many diabetics use to measure their blood sugar levels throughout the day. Because a large part of diabetes management is in regulating blood sugar, it's important to have blood glucose meters that are fast, accurate, and portable, so that recordings can be made with reassurance from anywhere.

Whether you have Type 1, Type 2, or gestational diabetes, using blood glucose meters on a regular basis can provide the results needed to make living with diabetes easier and more stable. See below for the different types of blood glucose monitors that can be purchased from various medical suppliers and sometimes obtained for free from a doctor's office.

Types of Blood Glucose Meters

Just like people with diabetes, blood glucose meters are diverse and thus able to be personalized according to specific health and lifestyle needs. Here are some of the types of meters to consider:

• Multi-site: While most meters take blood samples from the side of fingers, some models enable samples to be obtained from other sites, such as the palm or arm. This may be a good option if you are particularly sensitive or bruise easily from pricking.
• Compact: Nowadays, most models of blood glucose meters come in small, easy to transport sizes. If you are a frequent traveler and need something that won't be affected while being transported, finding extra compact blood glucose meters may be a great alternative to seek out.
• Accompanied with software: If you are interested in digitally recording your blood glucose readings, try looking for a monitor that comes with a computer software program. This allows you to upload results from your blood glucose monitor and have unlimited data on the patterns and history of your blood sugar readings. It also makes it easier for you to send information to your doctor, in case any alarming situations occur.
• Smaller samples: Most blood glucose meters need at least 0.5 mg/dL of blood to read properly. There are some that don't require as large of a sample to read accurately. This is accomplished by a lancet that doesn't poke the skin as deeply. This type of blood glucose monitor may be ideal if you regularly experience difficulty in extracting enough blood for a sample using other meters.

Blood glucose meters can vary in price depending on the features and newness of the model. Most will start at $20 and go up to around $70. In the end, blood glucose meters are usually not what end up being the biggest cost - the test strips used in blood glucose meters to absorb blood samples can cost around $1 or more per strip. This may be something to take into account when looking for blood glucose monitors.

In any case, have reliable blood glucose meters to test your blood sugar level throughout the day is the best way to stay on top of your lifelong condition and keep it stable. To avoid fainting, headaches, and other conditions associated with high or low blood sugar levels, test around 3 times a day for blood sugar and insulin levels. If you're unsure of how to go about testing or using blood sugar meters, talk to your physician or dietitian who can point you in the right direction.