Type 1 Diabetes need to test their sugars with a Glucose Meter
When someone has diabetes, they essentially are having a problem where their body is unable to produce enough insulin and they need to monitor and control their sugars themselves. Firstly, there are two types of people with diabetes – Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetics with Type 1 Diabetes control their sugars entirely by giving injections of Insulin. A person with Type 2 Diabetes may also need to use insulin injections if their blood sugar levels go out of control, but normally they will control their sugars by diet and pills. 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. The way a glucose meter works is that the person testing their sugar levels pricks their finger with a lancet device. This basically draws a small drop of blood from the person fingers so the levels can be measured. Then the diabetic would put a blood strip into the meter, and put the drop of blood on the strip. Depending on the meter, the length of time may differ, but generally in five seconds up to one minute you will get a reading of sugar levels.
A diabetic definately needs a glucose meter to test their sugars regularly. Without it they may give incorrect dosage of their insulin causing low sugar levels which can be dangerous as a seizure may occur. Compared to a decade ago, the price of blood glucose meters has gone down and are easier to pay for. Some companies when you buy a set amount of test strips will give you a free glucometer to be used with your purchased strips. Since many manufacturers make most of the money from the strips purchase, you get that added incentive of a free monitor to be used with their strips. Some more information for finding a free glucometer can be found at http://www.freeglucometer.info/.
Tags: diabetes, glucometer, glucose meter
