Does a diabetic need to buy a Glucose Meter?
Posted on January 27, 2010
Filed Under Health & Fitness | Leave a Comment
Someone who is unable to produce enough insulin or no insulin is someone who has diabetes, and they are having this problem which requires them to use a monitor and control blood sugars by themself. Firstly, there are two types of people with diabetes – Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes. Having injections using needles is the main way a person with Type 1 Diabetes controls and lowers their sugar levels. Type 2 Diabetics are able to control their blood sugars by pills and excercise alone, although they do sometimes need to use Insulin as well when the sugar gets out of control. A doctor will properly diagnose which type of diabetes you have and how you should control it.
So now we know that a diabetic needs to control their sugar levels. A diabetic monitors their blood sugars with a glucose meter that tells them how high or low their sugar might be. For those diabetics that cannot afford to purchase a glucose meter outright, their work coverage mght pay for it and you basically get a free glucometer. To use the glucose meter, the person testing their sugar levels will use a lancet device to prick one of their fingers. This basically draws a small drop of blood from the person fingers so the levels can be measured. The drop of blood would be put onto a blood strip that has been put into their glucose meter. Normally in about five seconds, or even up to a minute depending on the meter, you will get a reading telling you what your sugar levels are at.
The glucose meter is essential for a diabetic to own so they can test regularly. Without it they may give incorrect dosage of their insulin causing low sugar levels which can be dangerous as a seizure may occur. With the price on meters nowadays it has definately got more affordable. You may also find certain brands offering you a free glucometer if you buy the accompanying test strips. They do this as they make money from the actual purchase of the test strips, so give you incentive of a free monitor to make you buy their brand over the next competitor. Some more information for finding a free glucometer can be found at http://www.freeglucometer.info/.
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