Best Glucose Meters For Blood Sugar Testing
As I said before, there are quite a number of brands coming up with blood glucose meters with wonderful claims every day! However, most of them remain just claims and fail to offer you credible results.
To help you out in this scenario, I have sorted out the 19 best glucose meters for blood sugar testing you can rely on. Among the 19, I would recommend Care Touch Diabetes testing kit as the best. It is the top-selling glucose meter as of now and can be considered the most reliable one. Take a look at what makes these the best glucose meters in the market.
- 1Editors Choice
- High affordable and available test strips
- Portability helps in carrying it wherever one needs
- Access to 90 days of usage with the help of mobile app
- No coding required at all
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test :
This test measures an individuals response to a glucose load. They are instructed fast similar to the FPG and then they are given a measured dose of glucose to consume within 5 minutes and the blood is measured both immediately after the drink is finished and 2 hours afterwards. The 2 hour measurement is major recording.
Normal OGTT levels should be under 140 mg/dl although most functional medicine doctors want to see them under 120 mg/dl. The pre-diabetic range is from 140-200 mg/dl and over 200 mg/dl is considered diabetic.
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How To Use A Blood Sugar Meter
There are different kinds of blood glucose meters, but most of them work the same way. Ask your health care team to show you the benefits of each. In addition, 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 glucose monitor:
Wash your hands with soap and warm water and dry well. Make sure there are no food particles or other substances on your hand as these can affect the reading.
Massage your hand to get blood into your finger.
Use a lancet to prick your finger.
Squeezing from the base of the finger, gently place a small amount of blood onto the test strip.
Place the strip in the meter.
After a few seconds, the reading will appear.
Track and record your results. Include details on food, activity, and medication where relevant.
Properly dispose the lancet and strip in a trash container.
Do not share blood sugar monitoring equipment, such as lancets, with anyone, even other family members.
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Testing Too Soon After Eating
Knowing when to test and why that information is useful can help you better control your diabetes. “Often, people will test blood sugar half an hour or an hour after they eat,” says Uelmen, but this is sooner than experts recommend.
Testing too soon after you’ve had a meal or a snack will give you results that are probably too high. The solution for better diabetes control: Test fasting blood sugar, and test every time before you eat. Wait two hours after eating to get the best reading.
Who Should Monitor Blood Glucose
If you’ve been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, or you’re pregnant and have developed gestational diabetes, a form of the disease that occurs during pregnancy and goes away after a baby is born, testing your blood glucose levels regularly and at specific times throughout the day will be a key aspect of managing your disease.
The American Diabetes Association recommends that, for ideal use and implementation, anyone prescribed continuous glucose monitoring should receive robust education, training, and support and should be able to perform self-monitoring of blood glucose in order to calibrate their monitor and/or verify readings if they don’t represent their symptoms.
It will be helpful to keep a log of your results, as well as details about what you’ve eaten throughout the day and how much physical activity you’ve gotten. With this information, you and your doctor can get a grasp on how certain foods or activities affect your blood sugar and what adjustments you should make to meet your target goals.
| Target Blood Glucose Goals | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pregnant women with pre-existing type 1 and type 2 diabetes | Between 60 mg/dL and 99 mg/dL | Between 120 mg/dL and 129 mg/dL |
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How Can I Pay For Tests And Diabetes Supplies
Medicareexternal icon, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans pay for the A1C test and fasting blood sugar test as well as some diabetes supplies. Check your plan or ask your health care team for help finding low-cost or free supplies, and see How to Save Money on Diabetes Care for more resources.
What You Should Know About Diabetes
Diabetes is a metabolic issue that happens when there are large amounts of glucose in the circulatory system. These abnormal amounts of glucose are an after-effect of the body being unfit to create any or on the other hand, enough insulin.
Insulin is a hormone that is delivered by cells in the pancreas its motivation is to help transport glucose to different cells, which will, at that point, be consumed and utilized for vitality.
On the off chance that there is insufficient insulin being delivered, then the glucose stays in the circulation system, bringing about high blood sugars levels. As per the National Diabetes Statistics Report of 2014, 29.1 million individuals in the United States are living with diabetes . This number is staggering to say the least!
Individuals who have diabetes either have an absolute absence of insulin, which is known as type one diabetes or they produce too little insulin or then again are unfit to utilize insulin viably, which is known as type two diabetes. An examination of type 1 and type two diabetes uncovers many likenesses and contrasts in causes, side effects, confusions, and treatment.
Hereditary qualities may assume a job in this infection, bringing about an individual acquiring an inclination to diabetes, which would then be able to be activated by natural factors such as infections.
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What Can Affect My Results
They may not be accurate if you have anemia or gout. If itâs hot, humid, or youâre at a high altitude, that can interfere with the results, too. So can vitamin C.
If you consistently see results that arenât expected, recalibrate your meter and check the strips.
The chart below shows you the ideal blood sugar ranges for most adults except for pregnant women. Your ideal range may be different from another person’s and will change throughout the day, so check with your doctor for your targets.
|
Time of Test |
When You Suspect Hypoglycemia Or Hyperglycemia
If you are concerned about your blood glucose level, test them before making a correction. Some people try to make corrections based on how they feel rather than doing so based on actual readings. If you feel a hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic episode coming on, test first and then make the appropriate correction.
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Hours After Eating A Meal
Checking your blood sugar approximately 1 to 2 hours after eating is hugely important, because it tells you if your body has the tools it needs in order to handle your meals. Being consistently higher or lower than your goal range after eating can tell you some very important and clear things about your current diabetes management regimen.
A high blood sugar level 1 to 2 hours after eating could suggest:
- What you ate or drank at your last meal was more than your body could handle on your current diabetes management regimen.
- Your body may need some extra help from a diabetes medication.
- Your current diabetes medications may need a change in dosage.
- Your current diabetes medication may not be the right fit for you.
- Its time to try a different type of diabetes medication.
A low blood sugar level in the hours after eating could suggest:
- Youre getting too much of a certain diabetes medication .
- Your insulin sensitivity or insulin production has improved, which means your medication dosages need to be adjusted by your healthcare team.
Talk to your healthcare team about making any adjustments to your diabetes regimen to help you achieve your blood sugar goals.
Imagine A Scenario In Which You Have A Constant Glucose Screen Cgm:
Individuals treated with insulin, especially those with sort one diabetes, may likewise utilize a CGM. These gadgets measure your glucose at regular intervals utilizing a sensor embedded under the skin.
A few gadgets demonstrate your glucose perusing consistently on a beneficiary, and an alert will go off if your glucose is going up or going down too rapidly. Others necessitate that you check your glucose by running the collector over the sensor occasionally.
The vast majority of these gadgets still require finger-stick checks to adjust the machine. Check your gadgets client manual for learning on the off chance that you have to check, and how regularly you have to do as such.
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Random Blood Sugar Test
This measures your blood sugar at the time youre tested. You can take this test at any time and dont need to fast first. A blood sugar level of 200 mg/dL or higher indicates you have diabetes.
| 140 mg/dL or below | N/A |
*Results for gestational diabetes can differ. Ask your health care provider what your results mean if youre being tested for gestational diabetes.Source: American Diabetes Association
If your doctor thinks you have type 1 diabetes, your blood may also tested for autoantibodies that are often present in type 1 diabetes but not in type 2 diabetes. You may have your urine tested for ketones , which also indicate type 1 diabetes instead of type 2 diabetes.
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How Do I Pick A Glucose Meter
Your doctor will make a recommendation. Check with your health insurance plan to see if it will pay for your BGM, its supplies, or a CGM. If so, your plan may only pay for a certain meter.
Shop around and compare costs. Consider what features are important to you. For example, some meters are made for people who have poor eyesight. If you want to pay a little more money, you can get a BGM that stores the results in its memory. This allows you to compare results from several days at one time.
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Where To Check Blood Sugar: 6 Best Places To Check Your Blood Sugar
by Sunshine · March 25, 2020
Monitoring blood sugar levels to prevent complications from diabetes is recommended by the American Diabetes Association. If you have diabetes, a chronic condition that can usually be controlled by lifestyle changes, self-care measures, and medication, it is crucial for you to monitor your blood sugar levels.
If you happen to have the condition and want to give your fingers a break from frequent monitoring , this article presents the six alternative best places to check blood sugar according to studies. Dont forget to discuss with your healthcare provider to know which options suit you best.
Why Its Better To Exercise Soon After Eating
Glucose levels hit their peak within 90 minutes of a meal, according to a 2017 study published by the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology.
Those with type 2 diabetes are supposed to keep levels at 160 mg/dl within two hours of a meal.
Because exercising reduces blood glucose concentrations, its a good idea to start exercising about 30 minutes after the beginning of a meal, researchers concluded.
While this is a solid guideline, it can vary for different people. Read on to find out how to ensure youre in the safe zone for exercise.
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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.
How Can I Check My Blood Sugar
Use a blood sugar meter or a continuous glucose monitor to check your blood sugar. A blood sugar meter measures the amount of sugar in a small sample of blood, usually from your fingertip. A CGM uses a sensor inserted under the skin to measure your blood sugar every few minutes. If you use a CGM, youll still need to test daily with a blood sugar meter to make sure your CGM readings are accurate.
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What To Expect From Your Blood Sugar In The Morning
After an overnight fast, a normal blood sugar level is less than 100 milligrams per deciliter , according to the American Diabetes Association . But, according to Susan Spratt, MD, an endocrinologist and associate professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine, not everyone with type 1 or type 2 diabetes has to shoot for normal levels.
If youre young, the goal may be to get your fasting blood sugar levels to less than 120 mg/dL, Dr. Spratt says. But if youre older and have other health conditions, that number may be higher, she says.
The ADA points out that not everyone will have the same blood sugar level goals. Instead, your endocrinologist or doctor will calculate your target number based on your age, how long youve had diabetes, whether you have health conditions like heart disease and other factors.
Keep in mind, too, that your fasting blood sugar levels can be too low. For example, a morning blood sugar reading below 70 mg/dL can indicate a hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar.
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Urine Checks For Glucose
Urine checks for glucose are not as precise as blood glucose checks and should possibly be utilized when blood testing is outlandish. Urine checks for ketones, in any case, is significant when your diabetes is wild or when you are wiped out. Everybody with diabetes should realize how to check urine for ketones.
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/8different Times When You Should Check Your Blood Sugar Levels
If you are someone who is newly diagnosed with high blood sugar, its important for you to take the blood sugar test more often. Note down this data and share with the doctor, it will help him shape an appropriate treatment plan for you.
If you take insulin, doctors will recommend you to take three or more blood sugar readings throughout the day.
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When Should I Check My Blood Sugar
How often you check your blood sugar depends on the type of diabetes you have and if you take any diabetes medicines.
Typical times to check your blood sugar include:
- When you first wake up, before you eat or drink anything.
- Before a meal.
- Two hours after a meal.
- At bedtime.
If you have type 1 diabetes, have type 2 diabetes and take insulin, or often have low blood sugar, your doctor may want you to check your blood sugar more often, such as before and after youre physically active.
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How Is It Determined If The Dawn Phenomenon Or Somogyi Effect Is Causing The High Blood Sugar Levels
Your doctor will likely ask you to check your blood sugar levels between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. for several nights in a row. If your blood sugar is consistently low during this time, the Somogyi effect is suspected. If the blood sugar is normal during this time period, the dawn phenomenon is more likely to be the cause.
Some additional clues that the Somogyi effect may be the cause include nightmares, restless sleep and overnight sweating as these are all signs of low blood sugar levels.
When To Test Your Blood Sugar
Depending on your unique needs, they may suggest testing blood sugar at any of the following times:
1. Before breakfast
Testing before youve had anything to eat or drink in the morning, also known as a fasting blood sugar, can let you know how well your body manages blood sugar while you sleep. It also gives you a baseline to see changes in your blood sugar throughout the day.
2. Before each meal
Checking blood sugar before meals tells people who inject insulin if they need to take a correction dose of insulin in addition to taking their bolus insulin to cover the meal. When testing in pairs , a pre-meal reading can act as a reference for how the food you eat and any pre-meal medications affect your glucose levels.
3. After each meal
The food you consume has a large effect on your blood sugar levels. The American Diabetes Association recommends testing 1 to 2 hours after the start of a meal. To determine if your blood sugar level is where it should be, work with your healthcare professional to establish your target after-meal glucose range.
4. Before bedtime
A blood sugar reading taken before bedtime can tell you if your blood sugar is in a safe range, or if you need to have a snack before going to bed. It is also a point of reference for your morning blood sugar test, to compare and get a picture of how your blood sugar levels changed overnight.
5. In the middle of the night
6. Before, during, and after physical activity
8. When youre sick or stressed
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