Diabetes affects 26.3 million individuals in the United States, costs $174 billion and is the seventh leading cause of disease-related death in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite new drugs that have simplified the management of this condition, diabetics whose blood sugar routinely rises above normal risk long-term complications, such as blindness, kidney problems, infections and amputations. According to the American Diabetes Association, blood glucose monitors are invaluable tools for diabetics to track their sugar levels and better manage the disease.
Significance
For diabetics, knowing the numbers is important for various reasons. In the broadest sense, readings tell you if your treatment plan is working and how lifestyle changes and other medications affect your blood sugar. Beyond this, blood glucose monitors aid insulin-dependent diabetics to determine their insulin use, help pregnant diabetics keep their blood sugar levels constant and provide prophylactic checks for individuals prone to sudden drops in blood sugar).
Mechanism
The prototypical blood sugar monitor kit consists of a lancet to pierce the skin, a meter that reads blood sugar levels, and test strips that are inserted into the meter and used to blot the blood from the pierced skin. Once the blood touches the test strip, the enzyme in the strip reacts to the amount of glucose in the blood sample and the output is a number on the meter screen that can be interpreted based on a standard guide.
Options
Blood sugar monitors are available in a variety of sizes and shapes to accommodate most needs. Specialty monitors for people with visual impairments have larger screens with easy readouts. People with dexterity issues or handicaps can benefit from meters that have auto-loading test strips and lancing devices. Diabetics that travel frequently might consider monitors that tolerate changes in temperature, while individuals that monitor their glucose levels frequently might benefit from a device with a large digital storage capacity. Individuals who need to maintain their blood sugar consistently, such as pregnant women, should consider continuous glucose monitoring devices in lieu of the standard blood glucose monitors.
Cost
Depending on insurance coverage and manufacturer rebates, the initial cost of purchasing a blood glucose monitor is usually significantly reduced to none The main expense of home blood glucose monitoring comes from the test strips, which range from 50 cents to $1 a strip and could cost up to $104 a year for a minimal bi-weekly testing. Needless to say, the cost is significantly higher for individuals that have to test daily. Insurance companies may cover a limited quantity of these test supplies, but there may be restrictions on brands used.
Considerations
It is critical to consult with your health care professional and use blood sugar monitoring devices as directed. A dirty meter, test strips or meters that are not at room temperature, test strips used past their expiration dates, poorly calibrated meters, test strips that are incompatible with a certain brand of meter and errors in lancing for a blood sample could all be causes of erroneous readings.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: National Diabetes Fact Sheet; 2007
- Diabetes Forecast Magazine: Checking Your Blood Glucose -- Why Using that Meter Can Be a Key Part of Your Plan for Long-Term Health; Gebel, E.; April 2009
- Diabetes Forecast Magazine: Blood Glucose Meters; Bunker, K.; January 2010
- Diabetes Forecast Magazine: Understanding Blood Glucose; June 2010
- American Diabetes Association: Living with diabetes - Blood Glucose Meters
