Have you recently noticed an increase in your blood sugar levels? If your answer is Yes, you surely need to monitor it regularly to keep it under control. It might be possible that you have developed diabetes. Nowadays, with our varied lifestyles, we often fall prey to such diseases. So are you wondering how you can successfully monitor your glucose levels?
With the advancement of technologies, people hardly need to visit clinics for these tests. Instead, they can just sit back at home and get themselves tested with the help of portable blood glucose meters, which are known as glucometers. This device works by analyzing a small amount of blood from your fingertip. So, yes, you won’t even realize that your test is done.
Today, in this article, we will discuss some essential steps to monitor your blood sugar level successfully. Let’s dig in!
How Does A Glucometer Work?
As you know, a portable blood glucose meter or glucometer is used to monitor your glucose level and display the results within a few minutes. But how does it work? Well, you don’t need to be worried about it as we will be sharing with you all such important details associated with a glucometer in this blog.
The testing process is painless, as the lancet lightly pricks your skin to obtain a drop of blood. After that, the meter analyzes the sample and, within a few minutes, displays the results. However, do not remain under the delusion that testing once would be enough for monitoring purposes. Since blood sugar level often changes, you need to make it a routine to check it regularly and update your doctor accordingly.
So if you are planning to get one for yourself, you can easily look over some of the most popular brands that pledge to provide you with the best glucometer in India.
How To Monitor Blood Sugar Level Successfully?
Often it happens that you need to test several times a day or just once in a while. In both cases, you need to follow a testing routine that will prevent any sort of infection and provide you with accurate results at the same time. If you are confused as to how you can follow that routine, we will help you out by dividing it into some easy steps:
- Firstly when you are thinking of performing the test, you need to ensure that your hands are clean. So wash your hands with warm and soapy water to drive away any sort of germs and impurities that can cause infection
- After you’ve cleaned your hands well, dry them up with a soft and clean towel. You can also use an alcohol swab in the area you are about to prick the lancet. If you do so, be careful that you let the area completely dry before testing
- The next step is a very important one. You need to ensure that your lancet device is properly cleaned and only then insert a clean needle. As you know, the device is a spring-loaded one, which holds the needle and pricks the end of your finger during the test
- After that, you need to remove one test strip from your box of strips. First, however, close the bottle or box completely to avoid contamination of the other fresh strips
- Now stick the side of your fingertip with the lancet. Nowadays, some advanced glucometer models allow you to test from different body sites, such as your arm. Therefore, before using it read the device manual to ensure that you are drawing the blood from the right place
- Next, you need to wipe off the first drop of blood from your fingertip and collect it on the test strip. First, however, make sure the sample is adequate to display accurate readings. Also, see that your skin does not touch the strip as residue from any food or medication from your skin can modify the results
- After that, you need to hold your finger with a clean cotton ball or gauze pad to stop the bleeding. Then, keep applying pressure to the area until the bleeding stops
Understanding The Readings Of The Glucometer
It is very obvious that after the tests are done, you need to interpret them as well. But how can you do that? Let us help you out. First, if your blood sugar levels are high, then your glucometer will have the following readings:
- Fasting: If you are performing the test in the morning on an empty stomach or before a meal, your readings are likely to be 80-130 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl)
- Before meals: Your reading will probably be around 70-130 mg/dl during this time
- During bedtime: It will be under 120 mg/dl
- HbA1c: 7.0% or lower than that
The readings may vary over time and from person to person, as it depends on factors like a person’s age, health, weight, and other issues.
However, people whose blood sugar level is within the normal range might have the following readings:
- Fasting: It is likely to remain under 100 mg/dl if you do not have diabetes
- Before Meals: If you perform the test before meals, the readings will probably be less than 110 mg/dl
- Bedtime: Before bedtime, if you perform the test, it is likely to be within 120 mg/dl
- HbA1c: 5.7% or lower than that
Summing it Up
So after reading this article, you can very well understand the importance of glucometers in our lives. Therefore, you can choose the best glucometer in India to ensure that you get the tests done most conveniently and accurately.
