Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit and to keep the body in good health is a duty otherwise we shall not able to keep the mind strong and clear. Now a days number of people are affected by diabetes. In recent times many of the people facing the diabetes even in the younger age and even in birth.
Diabetes is a metabolic disease in which the glucose level in the body will hight over a prolonged period of time. It can be defined as condition that occurs when the body cannot efficiently make use of glucose that serves a source of energy for body cells. Usually the blood sugar level are controlled by the hormone called insulin. Signs and symptoms vary from person to person or even there may be no signs sometimes. Sometimes even in pregnant women who develop high blood sugar level without a previous history but this condition usually resolves after delivery.
Now a days we can check out our blood sugar level using a glucometer. Monitoring the sugar level is an important part of diabetes management. It will help us to know the activities or increasing level because of food. It also help us to control our diabetes from reaching the fatal limits. To monitor the blood sugar level for diabetes, need to visit laboratory. We can monitor our level at home by using the glucometer.
Glucometer became most integral part of the lives of diabetes patients. It was the small size portable device that requires a drop of blood to measure the blood sugar level. Glucometer provides readings by detecting the blood glucose content in your body with the help of glucometer strips. These strips contain some kind of chemicals which goes out the electric signals when the blood comes in its contact. By this we get a numerical results within few seconds.
How to Use
- Clean your hands before using the devices, Use a handwash solution rub your hand for atleast 20 seconds. You can also use alcohol swab to clean your hands. Rub your palm softly so that the blood in your fingers gets warmed up.
- You should switch off the glucometer before inserting the blood sugar strips. Need to insert the glucose test strip in the glucometer’s test strip port ensuring that the contract bars face upwards. The glucometer will start automatically with a beep sound when the strip gets in its contract.
- When your device is ready for testing the blood sugar, you just need to get your blood sample and monitor your blood sugar.
- Place the prepared lancet against the pad on your finger once your glucometer is ready. Gently press the trigger button to get your finger punctured. In this way, a drop of blood will come out of your finger. Checkout the type of blood required by your glucometer. Some devices use the hanging drop of blood while the others are one touch sugar test machine. A small drop of blood is used and drawn in with capillary action.
- A blood sample is hence applied on the narrow end of the already inserted sugar testing strip.
- Wait for 5 seconds to get the most accurate results. You will get the result given in g/l, mg/dl, or mmol/l. You can get mislead if you do not pay attention to the unit of calculated reading.
- Clear the blood from the fingertip after a sugar level check. Twist and remove the internal cap to open the mounting part of the lancet. The lancing device is cooked again after the round protective cover is removed and the lancet needle is inserted into it. Remove the lancet when the lancing device is locked. Now throw away the removed lancet and the sugar strips into the dustbin.
Problems to Avoid
Maintenance of glucose meter is required in order to avoid potential issues. Some tips for good functioning of a glucometer are
- Glucose meter device must be cleaned at regular intervals and Qc checks must be run when prompted
- Batteries must be kept in stock fitting the glucometer
- Expiry date of the test strips must be checked as expiries test strips delivers inaccurate outcomes usually.
- The lid should be closed tightly after taking a test strip out. An excess of light or moisture might damage the strip
