Diabetes has become one of the most common diseases in recent times. In the current scenario, millions of people across the globe have some sort of diabetes and need to be treated on a regular basis. There are principally three diverse categories of diabetes, which include Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes.

While the last one is rare, the other two are very common, and they affect the way the body metabolizes energy from the food ingested. In this disease, the body's glucose levels rise dangerously high as insulin levels are affected.

But one cannot go to a clinic every time they have to measure their blood sugar levels after a meal or before taking an insulin shot. This scenario is where glucometers come in handy.

While some devices don't require blood or pricking of fingers, the glucometers are by far the best devices to measure blood sugar levels as they give an accurate reading, and the margin for error is meagre. In addition, CGMs don't require a blood sample as they directly detect glucose through interstitial fluids in the skin.

Read More: Diabetes Meal Planning

What is a Glucometer?

A glucometer is a simple device used to measure sugar levels in a blood sample. It is a portable instrument and requires a minuscule amount of blood. Patients can easily take the blood sample from their fingertips, and the results are instantaneous. A regular reading on a glucometer is 140 mg/dL, and reading between 140 to 199 mg/dL indicates prediabetes.

Glucometers come in various sizes, and some have multiple features to accommodate the patient's needs. These include:

1. The glucometer can come with built-in audio instructions and a result reader for patients with vision issues.
2. There's data storage space in some devices so that the patients can store and compare their past sugar levels efficiently.
3. There are in-built backlights for the screen to view the results even in the dark.

Glucometers are conveniently available at local pharmacy stores, doctor's offices, or online. In addition, particular diabetes educational centers also offer them to their patients for monitoring sugar levels at certain times during the day is essential to detect any further anomalies.

What are the benefits of blood glucose monitoring?

In diabetics, blood sugar levels can rise abnormally high and damage the organs if the levels are sustained. Regular glucose monitoring can help people know more about their condition and help prevent any serious health issues. In addition, there can be alterations made in the diet, exercise plan, or medications by the attending doctor according to the blood glucose levels measured.

Typically, the doctors set a range for glucose level after considering the patient's age, type of diabetes, and a few other factors. Then, the levels need to be maintained between that range as it helps prevent any serious complications like organ malfunction.

High sugar levels can cause long-term adverse effects on the human body like nerve damage, cardiovascular issues, renal diseases, and vision problems.

Even though the profits of using a glucometer exceed the risks, one should know them to avoid making any errors while using the appliance. In addition, some risks can arise by sharing the same insulin needles or testing supplies, such as HIV, Hepatitis C, or Hepatitis B.

These risks are small compared to the positive outcomes of using a glucometer. Nevertheless, patients should pay heed to the hygienic measuring of their sugar levels and not share needles with any other person.

Who Should Use a Glucometer?

Patients of all age groups can use a glucometer. However, doctors recommend that those diagnosed explicitly with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, or LADA continuously monitor their blood glucose levels. Type 1 diabetes patients need to get tested more frequently than the other types; hence this device is crucial.

LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults) is a slower progression of autoimmune diabetes in an adult who needs frequent monitoring of sugar levels. Before we move ahead let's have look at how to improve your immune system

How to Use a Glucometer?

Knowing how to use a glucometer is vital for diabetic patients as their lifestyle can be determined by the levels measured. The instruction manuals that come with the device should be read thoroughly to avoid setting up the apparatus incorrectly. There are certain things you need to get ready before you begin to use a glucometer. They are -

• A notebook or a computer to record the results (If the glucometer has in-built storage space for data, read about how to store the information for easy access later on).
• Soap and warm water or alcohol swabs help avoid infections at the site where the needle pricks the finger.
• Testing strips (These can come built-in as well)
• The glucometer
• A sharp needle or a tiny blade that can prick the finger sufficiently enough for a drop of blood.

Follow the below-listed instructions on how to use a glucometer after setting up the things required.

• Set out the stuff gathered on a clean table and proceed to wash your hands. As this helps avoid blood infections, one should be extra-cautious while maintaining a hygiene routine.
• Use warm water while washing hands as this has a direct effect on increasing blood circulation. If warm water isn't available, one can briskly rub their hands for a minute or two before proceeding to the next step.
• Dry hands with utmost care as dilution of blood with water can lead to inaccurate readings and render the process ineffective.
• Insert the test strip in the glucometer after turning it on. Make sure you watch the indicator screen when placing the drop blood on the strip.
• While waiting, rub the fingertip from which you will extract blood with the alcohol swab and wait for it to dry completely.
• Pierce your fingertip carefully and place the drop of blood on the test strip. (Some glucometers require a "hanging" drop of blood while others require just a tiny quantity. Read the glucometer manual to know the type being used.)
• While waiting for the glucometer readings, you can use the alcohol swab to cleanse the pricked site for any extra blood leaked.
• Record the readings effectively. If the glucometer has a built-in recorder, ensure that the result is incorporated into the data.

The accumulated readings prove necessary for a physician to diagnose the course of the disease and prescribe any further medication. Hence, this process must be followed carefully, and any errors in taking note of the readings should be avoided.

Glucometer usage instructions

While the things required to measure the patient's sugar levels are listed above, specific tips can make the process easier and quicker. Read on to find out more!

1. Change of lancets if the process is too painful: One can change the size of the lancet or the pricking blade if too much blood is obtained while taking samples. The patient must remember that since this is a procedure that must be frequently done, the pricking instrument's size should be small and draw only one drop of blood.
2. Adjust the settings on the lancing device: A good blood sample is obtained when the needle pierces the middle part of the person's skin. There are settings to adjust how deep the lancet can go, and they should be paid heed to the same.
3. Use manual: Glucometers require a specific set of testing strips, and the patient should use only the ones mentioned in the instruction manuals.

These are some of the first-time tips on using a glucometer. Understanding the results displayed is the next step.

Understanding results of blood glucose monitoring

Besides understanding how to use a glucometer, it's essential that the patient can analyze the blood glucose readings himself to contact the doctor if the readings are beyond a specific range.

Normal blood glucose levels are:

• Fasting glucose ranges from 70 to 99 mg/dL
• Post-meal glucose ranges from 120 to 140 mg/dL

Normal blood glucose levels for individuals suffering with diabetes:

• Fasting glucose ranges from 80 to 130 mg/dL
• Post-meal glucose ranges from 150 to 180 mg/dL

The average levels of glucose change according to the person's age since children have a higher blood glucose level than adults. Anything beyond these levels should be noted, and the attending physician must be informed of the changes. It is for the physician to take note of the age and other contributing factors and specify a range for a particular patient, thereby avoiding the problems that arise due to stereotyping.

Avoiding common problems of Glucometer

There are specific issues that people with diabetes face at least once in their history of measuring their blood sugar. If the situation is far too adverse, these issues can be life-threatening. Hence, one should take extra precautions to avoid them. Some of the glitches are as follows:

1. Hands must be washed and dried carefully since any moisture can tamper with the results and produce false readings.
2. Alcohol on the skin must be allowed to dry since it can be absorbed on the test strip and inaccurate readings.
3. Strips must be stored appropriately and shouldn't be exposed to moisture or direct light.
4. Glucometers run on batteries, and these should be stocked as well.

FAQs on Checking Blood Sugar

Q1) How do you use a glucometer to check blood sugar?

Answer 1: Glucometers function by using strips on which the patient puts a droplet of blood. When the droplet is placed on the plastic strip, please insert it into the glucometer to get a glucose level reading. Make sure to follow all the instructions given by the electric device manufacturers and take careful note of the values displayed.

Q2) Why do you wipe the first drop of blood when checking blood sugar?

Answer 2: Health professionals often wipe off the first drop of blood and squeeze the patient's fingertip for a deeper sample. This action is taken so that tissue fluid contamination is avoided and precise measurements can be taken. Also, the skin is in direct contact with many microorganisms, and their presence in the blood placed on the testing strip can hinder getting practical results. If the finger is not squeezed, deeper punctures are unfavorable for the patient.

Q3) What is the average sugar level by age?

Answer 3: The average blood sugar levels post-meal are under 140 mg/dL, and the fasting levels are 80 to 100. Any value above 200 post-meal indicates a particular type of diabetes. Regular blood sugar in children aged 6 to 12 is almost always higher owing to their fast-metabolic changes and the body's constant need for an energy source in the form of glucose. Hence, a different measuring scale must be used for children of a specific age group.

Q4) What is the average blood sugar level for a non-diabetic?

Answer 4: For a non-diabetic, the range post-meal is 120 to 140 mg/dL, while the fasting levels are 80 to 100 mg/dL. There's a stage between the normal condition and a full-blown diabetes diagnosis - The pre-diabetic stage records fasting blood glucose levels of 101 to 125 mg/dL and post-meal levels of 140 to 199 mg/dL.

Q5) What is the average sugar level for a 60-year-old?

Answer 5: For a 60-year-old, the average blood sugar level before a meal is 70 to 130 mg/dL. After consuming their meal, their glucose levels should be less than 180 mg/dL in 2 hours. A check-up is necessary if the before-mentioned values are not observed since insulin production or usage can be impaired.

Conclusion

Diabetes is one of the most common diseases globally, affecting 1 in every 10 Americans, and its prevalence increases in the African-American and Hispanic populations.

It is a chronic disease that has no cure, and the person has to be dependent on certain medications for the rest of their lives. Measuring blood glucose levels by glucometers is the best they can do to monitor their condition constantly, lest their sugar levels rise too high.

Increased glucose levels are deadly to the body and can cause severe organ damage if the levels are consistently over a specified range.

Hence, people with diabetes must know how to use a glucometer, some tips on getting precise test results, the health risks associated with the procedure, and the expected glucose levels in the body.

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