How To Use A Glucose Meter
A glucose meter is a device you use at home to measure the level of glucose in your blood Blood glucose monitoring is an important part of your diabetes care, especially if you are taking insulin. Follow These Steps Prepare these items: glucose meter test strip lancet device needle (lancet) alcohol swab dry swab puncture-proof plastic container with a screw-on cap (e.g. shampoo container) Check to make sure: the insulin and test strips have not passed their expiry dates you are using the correct type of batteries the box of test strips comes with a code key the code key number is the same as that on the box of test strips Calibrate the glucose meter: Insert the code key into the test strip slot. Check that the number appearing on the screen is the same as that on the box of test strips. You must calibrate the glucose meter each time you open a new box of test strips. Wash your hands with soap and water: Prepare the lancet device: Replace the lancet cover carefully. Adjust the depth of your lancet device according to your skin thickness. Prime the lancet device by pressing the release button (for some products, you need to pull and release the lever). Prepare the glucose meter: Remove test strip from the foil or from the test strip container. Insert it into the test strip slot and this will automatically turn the meter on. Test your blood glucose level: Wipe one finger (index, middle or ring) with an alcohol swap and let it dry. Press the lancet device firmly against the side of your finger. Push button to release the needle. Squeeze your finger to get a drop of blood. Wait for the result to show on the screen. This is your blood glucose level. Put away items safely: Remove the lancet cover. Recap the needle before r Continue reading >>
How To Calibrate A Blood Glucose Monitor
Blood glucose monitors or glucometers are devices individuals with diabetes use to monitor their blood sugar levels daily. Glucometers give readings within five seconds of applying the test strip to a blood sample. For accurate readings, it is important to calibrate the blood glucose meter. Calibrating a meter is making sure the meter has the correct code to match the test strip. Some meters code automatically. Others, you must code or calibrate manually. How to Calibrate a Blood Glucose Monitor Manually Turn on your monitor or meter. If your meter requires you to insert one test strip at a time, it most likely has to be calibrated manually. Turn on the meter by inserting a test strip. Insert the test strip as far as it will go without bending the strip. Watch for the coding numbers. When the meter turns on or lights up the display, there will be a coding number, if you used the meter before. If the meter is new, instead of a coding number, there will be dashes. You must enter the code number to calibrate the meter. Look at the label on the test strip vial. The test strip vial has a coding number in bold print. This is the number you must enter into the meter. Enter the number by moving the up or down arrow. Once you have the correct number, hit the ok button on the meter. Your meter is now calibrated for the test strips. How to Calibrate an Automatic Meter Turn on the meter. Meters that have a 10-test disc usually calibrate automatically, such as the Ascensia Breeze 2. To turn on the meter, you usually have a button located at the top of the meter. Once the meter lights the display, it is ready. Open the meter. Meters that have 10-test disc usually have a button to open the meter for access to the disc area. Once the meter is opened, place the disc in the meter making Continue reading >>
Freestyle Libre Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need a separate blood glucose meter when using the FreeStyle Libre system? No. For convenience, there is a built-in FreeStyle Optium blood glucose and ketone meter within the reader that can be used for blood glucose and ketone readings. 2. Can I perform a blood ketone test with the FreeStyle Libre system? You can use the built-in meter to check your blood ketone levels using FreeStyle Optium b-ketone test strips. You should perform a blood ketone test on your fingertip only. Be sure to read the test strip instructions for use prior to using the built-in meter. 3. What is a Flash Glucose Monitoring System? Flash glucose monitoring is a new, user-friendly way to discreetly obtain glucose readings. A flash glucose monitoring system provides a complete picture showing the current glucose reading plus you can see how glucose levels are changing in a flash by just scanning the reader over the sensor. What makes flash glucose monitoring system unique is that a quick scan of the reader over the sensor provides a complete picture of your glucose including the current glucose reading,8 hour history and trend arrow showing if your glucose level is going up, down or staying steady. 4. What is the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system? The FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system is the first product in the flash glucose monitoring category and is designed to liberate people with diabetes from many of the hassles of glucose monitoring, such as routine finger pricking. The FreeStyle Libre system contains two components: FreeStyle Libre sensor: A small, disposable 14-day sensor that is worn on the back of the upper arm and automaticallymeasures glucose levels and stores them for a period of 8 hours. Every time the user scans the reader over the sensor, the g Continue reading >>
Helpful Tips About Your Glucose Meter
Helpful Tips About Your Glucose Meter Diabetes care should be designed for each individual patient. Some patients may need to test (monitor) blood glucose more often than others do. How often you use your glucose meter should be based on the recommendation of your health care provider. Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is recommended for all people with diabetes, but especially for those who take insulin. Learning to Use Your Glucose Meter Not all glucose meters work the same way. Since you need to know how to use your glucose meter and interpret its results, you should get training from a diabetes educator. The educator should watch you test your glucose to make sure you can use your meter correctly. This training is better if it is part of an overall diabetes education program. Instructions for Using Glucose Meters The following are the general instructions for using a glucose meter: Wash hands with soap and warm water and dry completely or clean the area with alcohol and dry completely. Prick the fingertip with a lancet. Hold the hand down and hold the finger until a small drop of blood appears; catch the blood with the test strip. Follow the instructions for inserting the test strip and using the SMBG meter. Record the test result. FDA requires that glucose meters and the strips used with them have instructions for use. You should read carefully the instructions for both the meter and its test strips. Meter instructions are found in the user manual. Keep this manual to help you solve any problems that may arise. Many meters use "error codes" when there is a problem with the meter, the test strip, or the blood sample on the strip. You will need the manual to interpret these error codes and fix the problem. You can get information about your meter and test strip Continue reading >>
Glucose Meters: A Review Of Technical Challenges To Obtaining Accurate Results
Go to: Introduction Glucose meters are widely used in hospitals, outpatient clinics, emergency rooms, ambulatory medical care (ambulances, helicopters, cruise ships), and home self-monitoring. Glucose meters provide fast analysis of blood glucose levels and allow management of both hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic disorders with the goal of adjusting glucose to a near-normal range, depending on the patient group. The development of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is probably the most important advance in controlling diabetes since the discovery of insulin in the 1920s and provides the ability for diabetes patients to test their own blood glucose and adjust insulin dosage to control their glucose needs. With the universal availability of glucose meters today, it is difficult to imagine that managing blood glucose was once considered impossible. The history of glucose meters started in 1963 when Ernie Adams invented the Dextrostix®, a paper strip that develops a blue color whose intensity was proportional to glucose concentration and could be read by visually comparing the strip color to a color-concentration chart. This method gave an approximation of the blood glucose level. In 1970, Anton H. Clemens developed the first blood glucose meter and glucose self-monitoring system, the Ames Reflectance Meter (ARM), to detect reflected light from a Dextrostix.1 This ARM weighed 3 lb, cost $650, and was intended for physician office use. Richard K. Bernstein was the first patient to test his blood glucose with an ARM.2 Medical journals at the time refused to publish this method, so Bernstein had to complete medical school at the age of 45 in order to gain attention for this method from the medical world. The idea of SMBG developed by Bernstein had to travel to Europe and Continue reading >>
How To Calibrate A Dexcom G4/g5 Cgm
The accuracy of your Dexcom G4/G5 CGM readings depends upon the quality of your calibration. If your calibration is off by 20 points, your next 12 hours of readings will be off by, likely, more than 20 points. So, if you want accurate Dexcom readings, you need technically perfect calibrations. Much of what you need to do for a good calibration is already a part of your Dexcom training: Start with perfectly clean hands. Before calibrating, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20-30 seconds. Shake the water off your hands. Do not dry your hands with a used towel instead, use a paper towel. Let your hands dry thoroughly before doing a calibration. Please note that alcohol will NOT clean food residue (sugar) off your hands. Do not milk your finger to get blood. It is OK to apply pressure to your finger pad to get more blood, but do not repeatedly milk the finger down towards the tip: you might dilute your glucose reading. If you have a hard time obtaining blood from your finger, first wash your hands in very warm water for up to a minute. Then swing your arms violently back and forth several times, to get blood into your extremities. Poke your finger, keeping your hand as low as possible, way below your heart. This should allow you to get plenty of nice, warm blood. Do not calibrate from very cold hands if you can avoid it (as it may not have the most recent glucose index). Use very warm water to warm your hands first. calibrate when within your in-goal range, if possible close to your BG target. Your CGM cannot be perfect everywhere between 40 and 400. You want it to be most accurate within range. Do not over-calibrate: calibrate two or three times per day, no more unless, for some reason, your CGM readings are more than 20% off. Your CGM algorithms may beco Continue reading >>
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Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices
What does this test do? This is a test system for use at home to measure the amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood. What is glucose? Glucose is a sugar that your body uses as a source of energy. Unless you have diabetes, your body regulates the amount of glucose in your blood. People with diabetes may need special diets and medications to control blood glucose. What type of test is this? This is a quantitative test, which means that you will find out the amount of glucose present in your blood sample. Why should you take this test? You should take this test if you have diabetes and you need to monitor your blood sugar (glucose) levels. You and your doctor can use the results to: determine your daily adjustments in treatment know if you have dangerously high or low levels of glucose understand how your diet and exercise change your glucose levels The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (1993) showed that good glucose control using home monitors led to fewer disease complications. How often should you test your glucose? Follow your doctor's recommendations about how often you test your glucose. You may need to test yourself several times each day to determine adjustments in your diet or treatment. What should your glucose levels be? According to the American Diabetes Association (Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes 2011, Diabetes Care, January 2011, vol.34, Supplement 1, S11-S61) the blood glucose levels for an adult without diabetes are below 100 mg/dL before meals and fasting and are less than 140 mg/dL two hours after meals. People with diabetes should consult their doctor or health care provider to set appropriate blood glucose goals. You should treat your low or high blood glucose as recommended by your health care provider. How accurate is this test? The ac Continue reading >>
Why Are Some Blood Glucose Meters Coded?
Tweet There is a basic requirement for blood glucose meters to be calibrated, or coded. In the absence of periodic calibrations the accuracy of any blood glucose meter’s measurements comes into question. Without a reference point to begin with, the instrument may never read correctly. With the use of a calibration, an instrument is given a predefined value so as to eliminate errors. If the readings on your blood test meter vary, then there will cease to be any good reason to test. Calibration removes the margin for error The idea of doing coding on your blood test meter (or calibration, which is the same thing) may sound like a bit of a chore, but a comparison might be that if you are making a cake, you need to zero out the scales before you start doing all the measurements. If the scales change each time you weigh out your ingredients, you’ll get a very odd cake at the end of it. It’s a much bigger deal to get your blood sugar readings as close to accurate as is possible. Test strip variations Although blood test meters are commonly available, the technology used is still highly sensitive. For each pot of test strips there may be variations in the sensitivity of each batch. In the production of any blood test strips, a sample of each batch is taken and tested against a standard solution. The reading thus produced allows the manufacturers to calculate what the code number for that batch should be so that when this code number is entered into your meter it will recalibrate your meter correctly for the sensitivity of that batch of strips. Recalibrating your blood glucose meter Each time you open a new pot of test strips you will need to recalibrate your meter. How this is done varies from machine to machine, but you should either be shown how to do this by your heal Continue reading >>
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Continuous Glucose Monitoring: Everything You Need To Know
Continuous glucose monitors or CGMs can be a lifesaving device for people with any type of diabetes. They continually check your blood sugar 24 hours a day and alert you you before you begin experiencing low or high blood sugar levels. They can reduce the number of times you have to check your blood sugar each day which is welcome news for everyone with diabetes! Insurance coverage is changing this year with Medicare jumping on board also, so this is the time to learn about this awesome piece of technology available to you. I know there are a lot of questions surrounding the use of continuous glucose monitoring, so we will break it all down here for you! What is a CGM and how does it work? Is it right for me? Will I still have to check my blood sugar? What choices do I have currently on the market? Will my insurance cover a CMG? How much will it cost? Can I travel and play sports with a CGM? In this article I will answer all your questions. What Is Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)? A continuous glucose monitoring system or CGM is a system that does just what it sounds like, it monitors you glucose (blood sugar) continuously…well, every 5 minutes, 24 hours a day! You are able to see what your blood sugars are with a receiver; the data is transmitted from a sensor which is inserted right beneath your skin which is attached to a transmitter which sends the data to the receiver. Now, the newest system are even integrated with a Smartphone; with this advancement you can check your data right from your cell phone. For parents with children, this technology is peace of mind, allowing them to check their child’s blood glucose level any time-day or night. There are two different types of systems: The first is a personal continuous glucose monitoring system that you wear a Continue reading >>
Should You Use The Control Solution To Check Your Meter?
You probably never use the control solution for your blood glucose meter. You can blame your doctor or yourself for this oversight, but the chances are that you never have heard this term before. Our doctors and other medical professionals rarely discuss using a control solution. It usually doesn’t come with our blood glucose meters. And your local drug store probably doesn’t carry the one that your meter uses. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the American Diabetes Association all recommend that we often check our meter with its control solution. Probably every owner’s manual for all of the blood glucose meters on the market has the same message. Something is seriously out of whack here. A control solution is a solution that mimics blood and that is used to test the accuracy of a blood glucose meter and test strips, says the Manual for Pharmacy Technicians. It is specific for a particular meter and may come as low, normal, or high control. The solutions can be categorized as “Level 1” or “Level 2,” representing low or high control. The expiration date of the control solution varies by manufacturer and can range from three to six months. Most Never Use Control Solution A survey of 18 people in the Bay Area of California who have type 1 diabetes or parents of children with it showed that 58 percent of them never used a control solution. Note well that these are people who rely on insulin, which requires rather precise blood glucose meter readings. Only the abstract of this survey, “SMBG Out of Control: The Need for Educating Patients About Control Solution,” in the September-October 2013 issue of The Diabetes Educator is online. But a friend sent me a copy of the full-text. Another s Continue reading >>
When Should I Replace My Blood Glucose Meter?
Replace your blood glucose meter for diabetes every one to two years. That's how long a typical glucose monitor will last if you're diligent about proper maintenance—like cleaning the lens, keeping batteries fresh and using the "check strip" with each new container of diabetic test strips. If an unusually high or low blood sugar result occurs, retest to verify the result; when the blood glucose meter stops being 100 percent reliable, check with your health insurance company about replacing it. When you do get a new glucose machine, keep the old one as a backup unless the doctor treating your diabetes feels it has become too unreliable. By Joyce A. Generali, M.S. FASHP, R.Ph., director of the University of Kansas Drug Information Center and the author of The Pharmacy Technician’s Pocket Drug Reference From our sister publication, Diabetes Focus, Summer 2011 Continue reading >>
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Support - Faqs | The Freestyle Libre System
What components are included in the FreeStyle Libre system? The FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System has two main parts: a handheld Reader and a disposable Sensor that you wear on the back of your upper arm. The Sensor does not need to be calibrated with blood glucose values. You use the Reader to wirelessly scan1 the Sensor and get your glucose readings. The Reader also has a built-in blood glucose meter, which works with FreeStyle Precision Neo blood glucose test strips. The FreeStyle Libre reader kit and sensor kit are sold separately and are available at major retail pharmacies with a prescription from your physician. 1. The reader can capture data from the sensor when it is within 1.5 inches of the sensor. The reader kit includes the following items: Reader, USB cable, Interactive tutorial on USB, Power adapter, Users manual, Quick Start Guide, Quick Reference Guide Whats is the contents of the sensor kit? The sensor kit includes the following items: One sensor pack, Sensor applicator, Alcohol wipe, Product insert Why does the system require a 12-hour warm up period? Are any readings available? During the 12-hour warm-up period, the sensor is acclimating to your body and no readings are available. After the warmup, you can obtain accurate1 glucose readings for up to 10 days. What do I do during the first 12 hours while the system is warming up? The FreeStyle Libre reader has a built-in test strip port that utilizes FreeStyle Precision Neo Test Strips. During the 12-hour warm-up period, you can use the test strip port for your regular glucose monitoring. Can the FreeStyle Libre system be prescribed for children? No. The FreeStyle Libre system is indicated for the management of diabetes in peoples age 18 and older. Can the FreeStyle Libre system be prescr Continue reading >>
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5 Must-follow Steps To Calibrate Your Blood Glucose Meter Correctly
It is important for people to check their blood glucose level once in a while to see if they are diabetic or within the normal range. Especially for diabetic patients, it is extremely important for them to always monitor their blood sugar level. You may consider this a precautionary measure for yourself so that your blood sugar will not increase up to dangerous levels. Of course, in order for this to work, you have to ensure that your glucose meter is properly calibrated. Otherwise, what is the point of checking? You will not get the correct results anyway. So for diabetics out there who own one, here are the correct ways to calibrate it before you can start using it for your test. 5 Must-Follow Step To Calibrate Your Blood Glucose Meter Correctly Firstly, you have to check the code on the test strip vial. This can usually be found in bold print. Next, turn the meter on. Most units automatically do this once that you place the test strip inside. The test port can usually be found either on the top of the meter or at the bottom area. You can tell that the meter is not properly calibrated if the code that appears on the test strip vial does not match the one on the meter. If the meter is brand new and has never been used before, it is highly possible that it does not have a code at all. A flashing blank space will be displayed instead. The calibration process starts the moment when you set the code into the meter itself. How do you do that? It depends on the unit that you have. There are some meters that come with up and down arrows while some have only one button. Just continue pressing the button until you see the code that matches the vial. The last step is for you to test if it works by taking a blood sample. Once the test is complete and the display on the blood gluc Continue reading >>
How Important Is It To Calibrate My Blood Sugar Meter?
It is important to calibrate your blood sugar meter. That's because there are manufacturing variances in test strips that can make the results quite different from batch to batch. Rather than make the manufacturing process more precise and reliable, meter companies have devised a cheap work-around. Every batch of test strips is given a code. The code tells the meter how bad the batch of strips is, and by how much to change the reading to get the results in the same general neighborhood as correct. I’m sure it will ruin your day to learn that for the FDA to consider a test strip accurate it must be within 20% of correct. That means if your blood sugar is really 100, any test strip that reads from 80 to 120 is considered accurate and can be approved. How far off will your meter be if calibrated wrong? Depends on the meter. I’ve seen cases of 100 or 150 points off. If I find a patient’s meter mis-calibrated I don’t even look at the numbers or the log. They are too likely to be wrong. The Born-Again Diabetic: The handbook to help you get your diabetes in control (again) Much has been written about the explosion of diabetes on the world stage the 4,000 new cases a day we all know about, the millions of people unaware they have diabetes. But another epidemic is... Continue reading >>
Blood Glucose Monitors: What Factors Affect Accuracy?
Sometimes my blood glucose monitor seems to give incorrect readings. What can I do to make sure the measurement is accurate? Answers from M. Regina Castro, M.D. When used correctly, blood glucose monitors — small devices that measure and display your blood sugar level — are usually accurate. But occasionally they may be incorrect. Consider these factors that affect meter accuracy and the steps to resolve or prevent the problem: Factors that affect accuracy Solutions Test strip problems Throw out damaged or outdated test strips. Store strips in their sealed container; keep them away from heat, moisture and humidity. Be sure the strips are meant for your specific glucose meter. Extreme temperatures Keep your glucose meter and test strips at room temperature. Alcohol, dirt or other substances on your skin Wash and dry your hands and the testing site thoroughly before pricking your skin. Improper coding Some meters must be coded to each container of test strips. Be sure the code number in the device matches the code number on the test strip container. Monitor problems Fully insert the test strip into the monitor. Replace the monitor batteries as needed. Not enough blood applied to the test strip Touch a generous drop of blood to the test strip. Don't add more blood to the test strip after the first drop is applied. Testing site location If you're using a site other than your fingertip and you think the reading is wrong, test again using blood from a fingertip. Blood samples from alternate sites aren't as accurate as fingertip samples when your blood sugar level is rising or falling quickly. The amount of red blood cells in your blood If you are dehydrated or your red blood cell count is low (anemia), your test results may be less accurate. Blood glucose monitor quality Continue reading >>
