Monitoring blood glucose, also known as blood sugar, is an essential part of a diabetic's life. Some people living with diabetes do not create enough insulin to allow cells to use glucose. For others, insulin is present but cells are resistant to it. This causes glucose to remain in the blood, often in high levels that can be damaging to body organs, such as the eyes and kidneys. By monitoring blood glucose daily as prescribed by a healthcare professional, diabetics can work to keep their blood glucose under control. Most often, checking blood sugar means pricking a finger, but other methods have been invented to eliminate painful pricks.
Finger Stick
Individuals who choose to monitor their blood sugar via traditional finger pricks require specific equipment. A blood glucose monitor, test strips and a lancet are required. Many different types of monitors can be purchased in drugstores or online. Monitors are available with different features, from very simple monitors that provide only a blood sugar reading, to more complex models that allow individuals to enter meals, exercise and even lab results. Lancets are used to prick the finger with a tiny needle to obtain a blood sample. Some monitors only require very minute blood samples, allowing users to prick other areas, such as the palm or forearm. The test strip is then inserted into the monitor and the end of the strip is touched to the blood droplet. Blood sugar results are available in seconds.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring
Continuous glucose monitoring is a method in which blood glucose is monitored continuously throughout the day. It is accomplished by a small needle inserted into the abdomen, or through a sensor placed on the back of the arm. The sensor delivers blood sugar readings to a box attached directly to the sensor, or wirelessly sent to a receiver. Some insulin pumps have the ability to perform continuous glucose monitoring, though as the Joslin Diabetes Center, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School notes, some insulin pumps lack this technology and require finger stick testing four times a day.
Lab Testing
Blood glucose can also be monitored by laboratory tests, performed in a doctor's office, hospital or in an independent lab. Testing by this method may be required to confirm a diagnosis or to monitor control. Lab testing can also be used to verify accuracy of a home glucose meter. Blood is drawn from a vein in the arm or hand and takes a few hours to a day, depending on the lab's turnaround time, to receive results.
