How To Use A Glucometer
Oftentimes, unless you have met with a certified diabetes educator, your healthcare provider may have given you a prescription for a glucometer without explicitly telling you how to use it. And while most instruction manuals are user-friendly, this task can seem daunting if you are new to testing or not that technologically savvy. Follow these guidelines for safe and easy testing.
Check Your Blood Sugar Often
Not everyone with diabetes needs to check their blood sugar every day. Others need to check it many times a day.
Usual times to test your blood sugar are before meals and at bedtime. Your provider may ask you to check your blood sugar 2 hours after a meal or even sometimes in the middle of the night. Ask your provider when you should check your blood sugar.
Other times to check your blood sugar may be:
- If you are having symptoms of low blood sugar
- After you eat out, particularly if you have eaten foods you don’t normally eat
- If you feel sick
- Before or after you exercise
- If you have been under a lot of stress
- If you eat too much or skip meals or snacks
- If you are taking new medicines, took too much insulin or diabetes medicine by mistake, or took your medicine at the wrong time
- If your blood sugar has been higher or lower than normal
- If you are drinking alcohol
Are Home A1c Test Kits Accurate
Most home A1C kits are considered to be as accurate as lab A1C tests. The results are accurate within plus/minus 0.5 percentage points, which is about the same as most lab results.
To ensure accuracy, look for products that are NGSP-certified and/or have FDA-clearance or CE-mark. All the products mentioned in this article are NGSP-certified.
When I tried the A1CNow SelfCheck at home , the A1C results came back with exactly the same result as the A1C lab test I had done a few days earlier .
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Glucose Ketone Index For Insulin Glucagon Ratio
You can guestimate your general metabolic health and insulin-glucagon ratio at home by measuring your blood glucose and ketones with an ordinary ketone meter.
The Glucose Ketone Index is a number between the relationship of your ketones and glucose levels. It can help to monitor your general health in relation to your blood glucose levels.
Heres the Glucose Ketone Index Formula: / Your Ketones Level = Your Glucose Ketone Index
- Measure your blood glucose by pricking your finger and all that. Write down the number you got.
- Measure your blood ketones by pricking your finger again . Write down the number you got.
- Divide your blood glucose number by 18.
- If your device is using mg/dl, then dividing that with 18 converts it over to mmol/l
- If your device is already showing mmol/l, then you dont need to divide anything and can skip this step
In general, having a GKI below 3.0 indicates high levels of ketosis in relation to low levels of glucose 3-6 shows moderate ketosis, and 6-9 is mild ketosis. Anything above 9 and 10 is no ketosis.
Therefore, a lower GKI will reflect an estimated insulin-glucagon ratio by virtue of how glucose and ketones affect that relationship.
When To Seek Medical Care
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How To Monitor Your Blood Glucose Levels
Watch this film from Diabetes UK or read the instructions below.
Tip
There is less sensation in the sides of your fingers than the tips or the underneath. Try to prick the side of your finger, near the tip.
To monitor your glucose, you will be given a blood glucose monitor. This is designed for you to measure your own blood glucose levels at home, or wherever you happen to be, by checking a drop of your blood. You produce the blood by using a finger pricker.
To monitor your glucose, you will be given a blood glucose monitor. This is designed for you to measure your own blood glucose levels at home, or wherever you happen to be, by checking a drop of your blood. You produce the blood by using a finger pricker.
There are many different brands of meter on the market, but they all work in similar ways:
Step 1 Wash your hands.
Step 2 Set up a finger pricker with a clean needle.
Step 3 Insert one end of a test strip into the meter.
Step 4 Use the finger pricker to prick the side of your finger.
Step 5 When a spot of blood appears where you pricked you finger, place it onto the end of the testing strip that is sticking out of the meter to transfer the blood.
Step 6 After a few seconds, the meter will display your blood glucose level.
Step 7 Clean the blood off your finger.
Step 8 Record the results in your blood glucose diary or diabetes journal, or you may have a phone app that you use.
Step 9 Throw away the test strip.
How To Use The A1c Home Test Kit
There can be many reasons to measure your A1C at home, such as limited access to see your doctor, the distance to a lab, the cost of the lab work, etc.
There are great options for measuring your A1C at home, but please consult with your medical team before making any changes to your care or self-diagnosing diabetes.
One very affordable A1C home test kit is the A1CNow SelfCheck which I demonstrate how to use in the video below.
The kit comes with 4 A1C tests and will give you your A1C result in only 5 minutes. Follow the instructions that come with the kit and make sure to add enough blood or it will return an error message.
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What Should I Know About Ketones
Ketones appear in your urine when your body uses its own fat for energy instead of sugar. Ketones usually appear when your blood sugar level is more than 300 mg/dl. If ketones build up in your blood, you can develop a very dangerous health condition known as ketoacidosis. Ketones are most likely to occur in people with Type 1 diabetes.
Make A Note Of Your Readings
It may sound obvious, but you must record your readings. Note them down in a diary, a notebook or in your phone calendar. Some meters have software that lets you do this. You could try a diabetes app too.
You and your healthcare team can then look back over your results to see if you need to adjust your treatment.
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How To Measure Your A1c At Home
The A1C or Hemoglobin A1C test is something everyone living with diabetes should be familiar with.
It doesnt show the whole picture of your diabetes management, but it can be a great indicator of whether your average blood sugar levels are within a healthy range.
Today, Ill show you how to easily and accurately measure your A1C at home.
Well also discuss what an A1C test actually tells you, why its a relevant test, and how to interpret the results.
How To Control Bleeding
After inserting the blood sample into the meter, please leave it to function while attending to the pets ear . For approximately 30 seconds, secure a gauze squeeze firmly to the prick site. This should be more than sufficient to bring the bleeding to a halt. Continue applying mild pressure for another minute if the location continues to bleed. Do not peek to determine whether the bleeding has ceased. Secure the area and maintain your pets calm. If the bleeding does not stop or if a considerable bruise develops, seek guidance from your veterinarian.
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What Should My Blood Sugar Level Be
The paragraph below gives you an idea of what your blood sugar levels should be. Blood sugar ranges might be different for each person and can change throughout the day. Your health care provider will tell you what range is good for you. Call your health care provider if one of the following applies:
- Your blood sugar test results are higher than usual for more than two days for an unknown reason.
- Your blood sugar level is low more than 2 times a week.
Recommended blood glucose range for people with diabetes
Time of test goal
- Two hours after meal starts: < 180 mg/dl
- Before bedtime snack: 100-150 mg/dl
American Diabetes Association, 2009
Scientists Yes But Were Mostly Human
PROFESSOR WERNER MÃNTELE
Werner is a professor of biophysics at the Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main. He has over 30 years of experience with spectroscopy. He is also an expert in analyzing and detecting molecules like glucose. Werner invented our technology and he is one of the co-founders of DiaMonTech.
THORSTEN LUBINSKI
Thorsten is an experienced entrepreneur who has successfully built, developed, and sold several companies.He is a computer engineer with an MBA and a specialization in medical software.
DR. RAINER GITH
Rainer has his own law firm and he supports DiaMonTech in all legal matters, with a focus on financing and IP. His area of expertise is hardware-focused startups.
SERGIUS JANIK
Sergius is the COO and links the scientific with the business parts. He is a physicist and has experience with startups in health and the fintech/event industry.
DANIEL MANCUSO
Daniel is an Electronics Engineer with 10+ years of professional experience prototyping, designing, and manufacturing embedded systems, with a special focus on IoT/M2M applications.
DR. LUCA CANINI
Luca is a data scientist with experience in both academia and industry. He works on all data aspects, ranging from predictive modeling to acquisition and validation.
DR. MATTIA SAITA
Mattia is a physicist with a background in infrared spectroscopy of biomolecules. At DiaMonTech, he runs the optical lab and is part of the R& D team.
MENGZHI GUO
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Monitoring Your Blood Sugar Level
Last Updated February 2021 | This article was created by familydoctor.org editorial staff and reviewed by Robert “Chuck” Rich, Jr., MD, FAAFP
If you have diabetes, its important to monitor your blood sugar at different times of the day and throughout the year. There are 3 tools that can help you do this and, therefore, manage your diabetes: A blood test done every three months, blood tests taken every day, and a system that constantly monitors your blood glucose.
The 3-month blood test is called an A1C test. This test reflects your blood sugar control over the past 2-3 months. Testing your A1C level every 3 months is the best way for you and your doctor to understand how well your blood sugar levels are controlled. Your doctor will likely be the one who orders an A1C test. However, you can also purchase over-the-counter A1C testing kits that you can use at home. Your A1C goal will be determined by your doctor. However, the goal is generally less than 7% or 8%, depending on your age.
The daily blood test is done with a blood glucose monitor . This is also called a home blood sugar meter, a glucometer, or a glucose meter. This type of testing is often referred to as self-monitoring of blood glucose. Your doctor may prescribe a BGM, especially if your blood sugar fluctuates. They will show you how to use it.
What Are Blood Sugar Levels
Your blood sugar levels, also known as blood glucose levels, are a measurement that show how much glucose you have in your blood. Glucose is a sugar that you get from food and drink. Your blood sugar levels go up and down throughout the day and for people living with diabetes these changes are larger and happen more often than in people who don’t have diabetes.
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How To Know If Youre In Autophagy
Autophagy is regulated most by the mTOR and AMPK pathways. To trigger autophagic cell death you need a catabolic catalyst that would increase AMPK and cause cellular stress. Being anabolic and growing will inhibit autophagy by raising mTOR through the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway.
To know whether or not youre more anabolic or catabolic or more mTOR or AMPK activated, you can measure your insulin to glucagon ratio.
Both insulin and glucagon are important for your bodys homeostasis and survival. They will either make you store energy and repair vital tissues or break down backup storage so that youd survive .
In general, an increase in IGR is associated with more anabolism weight gain, muscle growth, fat storage, hyperinsulinemia, and a higher risk of hypoglycemia. A reduction in IGR promote catabolism, fat loss, and prevent hypoglycemia.
What Tests Do I Need To Do At Home
- Blood test: The blood test is used to measure the amount of sugar in your blood. It will help you find out if your meal plan, exercise, and medicine are working to control your blood sugar.
- Urine test: The urine test looks for ketones in your urine. This can be done if you are sick or if your blood sugar level is very high. Meters are also available that can test your blood for ketones.
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Check Your Blood Sugar If:
- You have symptoms of low blood sugar . This includes dizziness, shaking, sweating, chills, and confusion.
- You have symptoms of high blood sugar , which include sleepiness, blurry vision, frequent urination, and excessive thirst.
- You have a job in which poor blood sugar control could cause safety problems.
- You need help deciding if its safe to drive or perform other tasks that require concentration if you are taking insulin or have had hypoglycemia in the past.
You need to learn how meals, physical activity, and medicine affect your blood sugar level.
Weighing Your Risk Factors
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What If I Have Trouble Getting To My Blood Sugar Goals
There may be times when you have trouble reaching your blood sugar goals. This does not mean that you have failed. It means that you and your health care team should see if changes are needed. Call your health care team if your blood sugar is often too high or too low. Taking action will help you be healthy today and in the future.
How To Use A Blood Sugar Meter
There are different kinds of meters, but most of them work the same way. Ask your health care team to show you the benefits of each. In addition to you, have someone else learn how to use your meter in case youre sick and cant check your blood sugar yourself.
Below are tips for how to use a blood sugar meter.
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