blood glucose levels | Diabetes Healthy Solutions

Free Blood Glucose Meters

They say that you can’t get something for nothing, but when it comes to free blood glucose meters this isn’t necessarily the truth. Even as death and disability rates from stroke, heart disease, and cancer continue to fall, diabetes is on the rise with many new cases diagnosed daily. This fact has led to there being a greater demand for blood glucose testing supplies and equipment like never before.

Now it is quite possible and even easy to obtain free blood glucose meters. When a person considers that the key to successful management of diabetes is keeping blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible, and that this can only be done with frequent blood glucose checks, then free blood glucose meters are a win-win situation.

Some free blood glucose meters are offered by the companies that make the meters. The facts are that practically every meter on the market requires a specific type of test strip and other testing supplies, and that most times strips can never be used interchangeably between models. When the meter manufacturing company supplies the meter to the patient for free they are practically guaranteeing that the patient will only purchase testing supplies that are made for that specific meter. This assures a steady income for the makers of the meter.

Many types of insurance will also supply the patient with free blood glucose meters. The key to proper management of diabetes and practically the only way to fend off the type of detrimental health effects that go along with it is by constantly maintaining a blood glucose level that is close to normal When the patient keeps normal blood sugar levels the incidence of other health effects are decreased. This leads to a decreased healthcare expense for the insurance company so the company can keep more of its profits.

Yes, it is true, in most cases you can’t get something for nothing, and you get what you pay for. When it comes to free blood glucose meters, however, it is possible to get a modern, high quality meter for free.

Normal Fasting Blood Glucose Level

When it comes to determining the normal fasting blood glucose level the numbers are sometimes subject to the individual. In most cases, however, a normal fasting blood glucose level is considered to be between 60 and 100 mg/dl. This is not a hard and fast rule however, as at times blood glucose levels can be influenced by age, weight, and even underlying health problems. The number one concern is that if you or someone you know suddenly develops increased thirst, increased appetite, and increased urination, and/or if there is a family history of diabetes it is probably time for a trip to the doctor to test for a normal fasting blood glucose level.

The BD Glucose Test Meter

The Becton-Dickinson company is one of the world leaders in supplying medical equipment and is the supplier of the BD glucose test meter. The BD glucose test meter is a one of the new breed of compact glucometers. The BD glucose test meter is so small that is fits neatly in the palm of the hand and so light at to be practically unnoticed when stowed in a purse of carry bag for easy travelling.

The newest BD glucose test meter is a miniature when compared to the bulky meters that were available just a few years ago, and it is so sensitive that it takes only the smallest amount of blood to read the glucose level. This means that a thinner gauge lancet can be used to obtain the blood sample and this of course means a great deal less discomfort than the meters that were used just a few years ago.

What Are Normal Glucose Levels?

What are normal glucose levels? This is the kind of question that most people never ask. Most people could care less about blood glucose levels and live blissfully unaware of how glucose levels can affect health, unless they suddenly find themselves diagnosed with diabetes.

Heart disease, cancer, and stroke rates are all on the decline, but diabetes rates are rising at a staggering rate and an increasing number of people find themselves concerned with the question of, “What are normal glucose levels?”

In order to answer the question, “what are normal glucose levels?” one should first understand what glucose is and how it works. Glucose is basically what fuels every cell in the body. When we ingest sugars and carbohydrates the body metabolizes them into glucose which is actually a type of simple sugar. The glucose goes into the bloodstream where insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, causes the cells to “open up” so that the glucose can enter the cell and be used for fuel.

Without glucose the body would cease to function as surely as trying to run a car without gas, and higher than normal levels of glucose can damage many different body systems, causing kidney damage, heart problems, neuropathies, glaucoma, or even coma and death. Like most everything in medicine the answer to the question, “what are normal glucose levels?” may vary from patient to patient based on factors such as age, weight, other health conditions, and even exercise levels. Because of this, there are no hard and fast answers, but in most cases if you asked a doctor “what are normal glucose levels?” he would answer that normal glucose levels are usually between 60 and 110 in a normal person. If you check your sugar regularly and find that it is running higher than 110 or lower than 60 it is probably a good idea to stop asking “what are normal glucose levels?” and go see your doctor to find out if your body is metabolizing glucose correctly.

Using Blood Glucose Charts

Diabetes is quickly becoming one of the greatest health care concerns of modern times, and if you are a diabetic the best way to keep a handle on your diabetes is by keeping track of your blood sugar by using blood glucose charts. Diabetes, if not properly treated, can lead to heart problems, kidney failure, peripheral neuropathy, coma, and even death. The only way to keep these things from happening is to keep your blood sugar as close to normal as possible for as much of the time as possible and this can be done with blood glucose charts.