Diabetic Testers

The uses of the diabetic testers

For diabetics having and knowing how to use diabetic testers is vitally important. Diabetes is a disease in which the organ known as the pancreas stops or slows in the production of a chemical known as insulin. This chemical is responsible for all of the body’s energy. It takes the glucose (sugar) in the blood and changes it into energy that the body’s cells can use. If the insulin is low or nonexistent the blood sugar rockets to dangerous levels, at such high levels the body becomes damaged. The damage that can occur when the sugar levels in the blood are to high include; heart damage and disease, nerve damage, kidney damage and failure, and eye damage. The uses of diabetic testers are now evident when you take this into consideration. So how does it work?

Diabetic testers also known as blood glucose meter are small (generally) handheld devices that are used to measure the amount of sugar in the blood. First the finger, (or thanks to better technology) the arm, Is pricked with a small needle that draws a small amount of blood. The blood is then placed in a small plastic strip that is inserted into the unit. The unit then measure the sugar in the blood and displays the results on a small easy to read screen. This allows you to check your blood sugar at any time and keep your blood sugar in safe levels. One of the most important things when getting a meter is that you know how to use it correctly and that you are comfortable with it because your life depends on it. If you don’t have the ability to get diabetic testers can talk to your doctor and he may be able to help with getting free diabetic testers.

When a person is taking about diabetic testers they are generally referring to the machines that are used by most diabetics to test the sugar, or glucose, level of their blood. The technical name for the machine is glucometer. Diabetic testers, or glucometers, are rapidly becoming indispensable little machines for a growing number of people since the incidence of diabetes is rapidly rising each and every day.

In order to use diabetic testers the person who wishes to check their blood sugar not only needs the machine, but also alcohol wipes to clean the area, a special type of needle called a lancet to prick the skin, and the proper diabetic test strips for the machine that they will use.

Once the diabetic testing supplies are readied the person places a test strip in the machine, in most cases this automatically turns the machine on, then the person selects a body part, usually a fingertip, and cleans it with the alcohol wipe. After the alcohol is dried the person pricks the area with a lancet in order to obtain a drop of blood which is then placed on the test strip. Diabetic testers read the amount of glucose in the drop of blood and display the blood glucose level, which should be between 80 and 110 for the person to see.

There are many diabetic testers on the market today; most are so small that the machine and all the diabetic testing supplies needed for a whole day will fit in a little case which is easily carried in a pocket or a purse. Those who are looking at different brands of diabetic testers in order to decide which one to purchase should remember two things, more expensive does not always mean better, and the best diabetic tester to but is the one that they understand how to use and will use regularly.