Helpful Guide To Glucometer For First Time Users
The best glucometer in India is a helpful, user-friendly device that can be carried everywhere and anywhere. It makes it very easy for you to keep track of your blood sugar levels.
Blood sugar is becoming increasingly common and whether you have type 1 diabetes or type 2, keeping it under check is essential to your well-being. A device that helps you measure sugar levels anytime, anywhere is the best glucometer in India.
What is A Glucometer?
Glucometer is an easy-to-use, highly advanced, and sophisticated device used to measure blood sugar levels. It only requires one drop of blood and immediately delivers the results. They are highly compatible and can be carried around. They require tiny space. It is highly beneficial for people who live busy lives and are always on the go.
Demonstrating The Usefulness
The glucometer has multiple advantages, and it proves to be extremely useful during medical emergencies.
- To check how controlled the blood sugar level is if it’s high or low
- Recognize the pattern: the fall or spike in the levels and when
- Check the response of the glucose levels after regular exercise or during stressful times
- Monitoring the effect of the medicines and therapies on your diabetes
- Assess the effect of the treatments on your body
How Often Should You Test The Sugar Levels?
To put it plainly, there is no hard and fast rule as to when you should check the sugar levels. The frequency of testing actually depends on your blood sugar level and the type of diabetes you have. What the glucometer helps you do is to keep track and record the results.
Type 1 Diabetes
Generally, for type 1 diabetes, the patient must check the sugar levels at least once per day. Which means you can do more than one test per day. If you have some serious issues and the sugar levels are always high, testing before consuming any food is normal. Or maybe before and after exercise or maybe before going to bed.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is called gestational diabetes. For this type, you must test at least once a day. Testing highly depends on your diabetes levels. If you take non-insulin medicines, then once a day is enough. And if you don’t, then test before eating and before going to bed every day.
Using The Glucometer
Like we mentioned before, it is an easy to use user-friendly device that takes very little of your time and delivers 99% accurate results. Every glucometer comes with a user manual, but the task might still seem daunting for not technologically savvy people. So here’s a simple step-by-step guide for you. First, follow these instructions for safe and easy testing:
Things You Need To Keep Ready
- A Lancet: The device that you pierce into your skin to collect blood
- Alcohol prep pad or hand wash
- Test Strips: These test strips are inserted inside the glucometer to conduct the test
- Note Results in a Notebook
Remember to sanitize the lancet before you pierce yourself and wash your hands and dry them carefully.
Usage Instructions
- Before starting, make sure the entire kit is properly sanitized. Now, you need to wash your hands. If you are not close to the water supply, then keep alcohol swabs ready
- Keep the glucometer, test strips, and lancet ready
- Warming your hands before collecting the blood makes the process easier. For example, you can rub your hand briskly or hold them under running warm water
- Turn on the glucometer and place the test strip inside. When the machine is ready, it will blink as an indication to put the blood in the strip
- Make sure your hands are dry before you take the blood
- You have selected the place from where you wish to draw blood, but it must be only from the palms of your hands
- Now place the blood on the strip. And wait for the glucometer to indicate
- Once it starts blinking, you immediately put the drop of blood you collected in the test strip. And wait for the results
- Note down the results daily for your convenience. It also gives the doctor a better understanding of your case
First Time Test Tips
You must read the instructions given in the user manual of the glucometer carefully. The instructions for use vary slightly from brand to brand, but the core method remains the same.
- The lancet gauge: If you found the piercing experience intolerably painful, you must change the size of the lancet gauge. The gauge comes in various sizes, but the finer the gauge, the better for you
- Penetration Depth: You can adjust the penetration setting on the lancet. To avoid unnecessary panic before the first time
- You must use proper test strips. Always buy the one that fits your glucometer
- Some glucometers require a larger blood sample than others. So read the instructions carefully and get as much blood as required
Conclusion
The best glucometer in India is a helpful, user-friendly device that can be carried everywhere and anywhere. It makes it very easy for you to keep track of your blood sugar levels.