Have you been recently diagnosed with diabetes? Learning the ins and outs of your condition can prove to be a little tricky. From an insulin pump to a glucometer, there are many terms you will need to familiarize yourself with in order to properly manage your diabetes.
Even if you’ve been living with diabetes for years, there are certain products on the market today that look far different from what you might be used to. For example, the glucose meter widely used today – also known as a continuous glucose monitor – lets you see your glucose levels throughout the day without pricking your finger. Read on through the slides below to learn more about the top must-have products for diabetics.
Tracking your glucose levels is extremely important when you have diabetes. Also known as a glucometer, this device allows you to measure your blood sugar at a single moment in time.
Most glucose meters use a single drop of your blood to measure your blood sugar levels. The device is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and has a screen that displays your blood sugar levels.
The OneTouch Ultra Mini was once a widely used glucometer, but it has been discontinued. Here are the most popular devices today:
- AccuCheck Aviva Plus
- OneTouch Ultra 2
- Contour NEXT EZ
To use a glucometer, you will need glucose test strips, which are small strips of plastic containing glucose-sensing chemicals. After you prick your finger, place the drop of blood on the test strip and insert it into the glucose meter.
Don’t want to prick your finger each time you measure your blood sugar? Some advanced glucometers are specially designed to monitor glucose levels throughout the day without the need to prick your finger.
Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) track blood sugar levels day and night and alert you when your glucose levels get too low or too high. Most CGMs read your levels at frequent intervals to give you a dynamic reading of your average blood sugar throughout the day.
The best part about this type of glucose meter is that you can track your levels right on your smartphone. Many CGMs have their own app that you can download to your phone, smartwatch or tablet.
Because CGMs measure your blood sugar at various times of the day, they help you learn more about factors that affect your glucose level. For instance, it may be easier to predict spikes or drops in your blood sugar after eating or exercising by studying the trend of your measurements over time.
By Admin –
