Glucometer is the device used to measure diabetes. With this device, blood sugar (ie, diabetes level) points can be determined at home.
In this case, the tip of the finger is punctured with the help of a fine needle called a lancet. If blood comes out, take a drop of blood on the testing strip and insert it into the machine to test for diabetes.
Regular blood sugar measurement is very important for diabetic patients. Regular monitoring of sugar levels will help control diabetes. It is important to always keep a blood sugar meter handy to avoid various health complications of diabetes .
Diabetics are generally advised to measure their blood sugar regularly—on an empty stomach and every two hours after meals—four times a day. However, taking into account overall health and lifestyle, how often and at what time of day diabetes should be measured may vary from patient to patient. Talk to your doctor to find out the right advice for you.
Everything you need to measure diabetes at home
- Blood sugar measuring machine or glucometer
- Sterile lancet
- Plastic pen for lancet insertion
- Test strip
These can be bought together when buying a glucometer at the pharmacy.
Diabetes test rules at home
Here are seven steps to measure blood sugar at home:
1. First, wash your hands thoroughly with soap or handwash and dry them. Hands can also be disinfected with alcohol pads or hand sanitizer instead of soap. But in that case you have to wait until the finger is completely dry.
2. A test strip should be inserted into the designated area of the glucometer. Strips also differ from model to model of glucometer. So choose the right strip according to the specific model. Apart from this, care must be taken whether the strip is fake or expired.
3. Attach a lancet inside the plastic pen and remove the lancet cap. It should be noted that a new needle must be used every time the diabetes is measured. Follow the instructions on the glucometer packaging or the leaflet inside the packet for easy and correct use of the pen.
4. Now hold the pen on one side of the finger and pierce the tip of the finger with the needle. Holding the pen on one side of the finger will reduce the pain. A different finger should be used each time the blood sugar is measured. A normal drop of blood is enough to measure diabetes in a glucometer.
5. Now put a drop of blood on the test strip attached to the glucometer. The finger should be held in such a way that the drop of blood fills the designated area of the test strip. If the blood level is too low, incorrect readings may occur or an error may appear on the glucometer screen.
6. Within a few seconds, the blood sugar or diabetes point will be displayed on the glucometer screen. Calculations are usually expressed in mmol/l (millimol/liter) units. If someone's reading on the screen comes up to 6 mmol/l, then they are diagnosed with diabetes or blood sugar level of 6 points.
However, some glucometers may display readings in mg/dL (milligrams/deciliter) units. Dividing the result in mg/dL units by 18 gives the result in mmol/l units.
It is better to note the results with date and time in a specific diary or book to keep track of diabetes level.
7. Finally, the used needle and strip should be disposed of in the waste basket.
Regularly take care of the glucometer and keep it clean and disinfected according to the instructions.
How many points should diabetes be?
For people with diabetes, doctors set blood sugar targets based on their overall health and lifestyle. Advice is also given on when and how many times a day to measure diabetes with a glucometer.
What should be the blood sugar target for normal healthy people and diabetic patients is given below-
Normal blood sugar levels for a healthy person are:
| on an empty stomach | 4 to 6 points |
| 2 hours after eating | Below 8 points |
Normal blood sugar levels for diabetics are:
| on an empty stomach | 4 to 7 points |
| 2 hours after eating | 8 to 9 points |
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