The blood glucose machine has been around for around 31 years with the first units appearing in 1980. The blood glucose machine is used to calculate the concentration of glucose in the blood that is scanned. The blood is gotten by pricking the finger or a different area with a lancet and is placed in a disposable test strip that is then scanned by the unit and then displays the glucose concentration on a screen that is easy to read.

This has been a excellent addition to the diabetic’s arsenal as it helps with reducing the long term health issues of diabetes since it allows you to watch your blood sugar and keep it at a average rate. It has also helped with the short term life threatening problems of hypoglycemia.

The blood sugar testing machine is (and has been) about the size of the palm of an adult’s hand. The test strips are disposable plastic strips with chemicals in the end that use glucose oxidase to measure the blood glucose. The amount of blood needed to fill these small strips is only 0.3 to 1 ml of blood. Some of the older versions require more but the smaller versions require less blood for unproductive pricks. The display of the unit is a small window that displays the exact amount measured in the blood sample. Some of the meters offer alternate site testing such as the arm. But this presents problems as the blood in the arm is the last to change glucose level. The newer versions also have memory settings and will record each test the unit receives. This allows you to watch the changes in your blood glucose levels. This also allows you to show your doctor to look at your tests history and how your blood changed over time. Which blood glucose machine is best for you?