In patients with type 1 diabetes, the beta cells of the pancreas are destroyed by the body's immune system. As explained by the National Institutes of Health website Medline Plus, beta cells normally produce the hormone insulin, so patients with type 1 have no insulin available. Instead of sugar being taken up by the cells of the body, it remains in the bloodstream, leading to a potentially life-threatening condition called hyperglycemia. Type 1 diabetes is often diagnosed in childhood; a critical part of treatment is blood sugar monitoring, using special devices called glucometers. Several types of glucometers are available.
Glucometers Requiring A Small Blood Sample
Any glucometer that is available is meant for one task: to be able to measure the level of sugar, or glucose, in a patient's blood. This is generally done by using a lancet to make a small puncture in the skin of the fingertip, palm, or arm, and drawing up blood onto a small strip, called a test strip, which has been inserted into the meter. The glucometer "reads" the amount of sugar in the blood and displays this as a number. The amount of blood needed in different meters varies, with some meters requiring as little as 0.3 microliters and others requiring 1.5 microliters. For children with diabetes, a meter that requires less blood may help as they are learning how to test their own blood sugar; according to the article published in the American Diabetes Association's magazine, Diabetes Forecast, it may also reduce the pain associated with blood sugar testing. Examples of meters requiring a minimal amount include the Freestyle Freedom Lite, the MyGlucoHealth Wireless, and the ReliOn Micro.
Glucometers With No Manual Coding Necessary
Often, when inserting a test strip into the glucometer, the patient must "code" the test strip -- that is, he must make sure that the meter knows the correct code associated with the test strip. This coding step is needed to ensure that the meter gives accurate blood sugar results. While most meters require the patient to manually enter in the correct number, other meters do this coding process automatically, displaying the number that is found on the vial of test strips. Still other meters are not associated with a specific code at all, eliminating this step altogether. A child who is learning how to manage his diabetes may benefit from a meter that either enters the code automatically or does not require a code, as forgetting this step could lead to inaccurate blood sugar readings on the meter. According to the American Diabetes Association guide to blood glucose meters, examples of meters in which manual coding is not needed include the Accu-Chek Compact Plus and the Wave Sense Jazz.
Glucometers that Communicate with an Insulin Pump
For some children with type 1 diabetes, managing their disease with an insulin pump, which delivers insulin continuously, may be a beneficial alternative to frequent insulin injections.These patients or their parents may consider a meter that is able to communicate wirelessly with the insulin pump. This ensures that when a blood sugar test is done, the result is sent to the pump; it is one less number for a child to have to enter in her pump. It is important to note that often, a certain insulin pump will require a specific model of meter. Examples of meters that are set up to communicate with certain models of insulin pumps include the OneTouch UltraLink and the Nova Max Link. Children with insulin pumps may choose to use meters that do not communicate with their insulin pump. This is a perfectly reasonable option, especially if a particular meter offers other advantages. In this case, the patient and her parents should simply remember that when they are testing sugar, the pump will not automatically know the result; they will have to enter it themselves.
References
- Medline Plus: Diabetes Type 1
- "Diabetes Forecast;" Blood Glucose Meters; K. Bunker; January 2010
- American Diabetes Association: Blood Glucose Meters
