One of the most common diseases of the 21st century is considered to be diabetes mellitus. And in order for this disease not to lead to serious and irreparable consequences, it is imperative to monitor the level of blood sugar. In order to make life much easier for a person and save him from constant visits to a medical institution, a device for measuring blood sugar or, as it is also called, a glucometer, was created. In today's article, we will look at what you should pay attention to when choosing this device.
History of its occurrence
The issue of controlling blood sugar levels worried doctors back in the 50s of the last century. At that time, special test strips were used for this purpose, with the help of which it was possible to determine the amount of glucose in the urine ("Clinistix system") or blood ("Detrostiks system"). But given the fact that the glucose level was determined only visually, there was a very high error in such a diagnosis.
Therefore, after 20 years wasdeveloped the world's first device for measuring blood sugar. His activity was based on the transformation of the light signal, which was reflected from the colored test strips, into an indicator of the numerical value of sugar in the human body. Among the shortcomings of these devices, one can single out the fact that the test strips used in them needed to be rinsed after each use.
After that, the gradual improvement of these drugs began. For example, one can note the appearance of devices that use indelible test strips for a glucometer. A distinctive feature of these devices is the ability to take blood not only from the fingers, but also from the forearm. In addition, just one drop of blood is enough to determine the level of sugar. The result is usually known within 30 seconds.
Today, blood glucose meters are divided into the following categories:
- For people aged and diagnosed with diabetes.
- For younger people who also have an established diagnosis of diabetes.
- For people who are at risk for this condition.
Classification of blood glucose meters
Today, there are such devices:
- Photometric, determining the level of sugar in the blood, depending on the color of the test zones. The color changes depending on the reaction of glucose to the substance applied to the strip. But it is worth noting that this technology is considered a bit outdated.
- Electromechanical. In thesedevices, the amount of sugar is measured by the amount of current. This possibility appears due to the interaction of sugar and special elements that are applied to the test strips. If we compare these devices with photometric ones, then their determination accuracy will be several times higher. In addition, it should be noted that they are also practically not affected by external factors. Also, as a rule, these meters use plasma calibration.
- Raman. These devices determine the level of sugar in the blood, highlighting it from the general spectrum of the skin. That is, this procedure absolutely does not require blood sampling. True, at the moment this technology is still under development, but, judging by the latest research, its results exceed all expectations.
How to measure blood correctly?
It's no secret that the results of measurements taken at home may differ slightly from what was taken in the laboratory. Therefore, to make this difference almost imperceptible, you should follow simple rules, which include:
- Washing hands in warm water and then drying them before testing.
- Massaging a finger or other areas of the body before drawing blood.
- Regular change of blood sampling sites. This will avoid any hardening of the skin where previously used.
- Do not prick deep.
- Use only your own lancets.
- Don't use the first drop of blood. In addition, keep an eye onso that the drop is not smeared.
Remember, it is strictly forbidden to press your finger hard, as this can lead to mixing of blood with tissue fluid. Also, special attention should be paid to protecting the test strips from moisture. Therefore, you need to get them only before use.
Glycometer for the elderly
The device for measuring blood sugar in the elderly is in the highest demand. That is why it should be quite simple and reliable. Reliability includes: the presence of a strong case, a large screen and a minimum number of moving devices that can malfunction during their work. Simplicity is determined by the small size and the presence in it of a coded test strip for a glucometer that works with a special chip, and not a standard set of buttons and numbers that you need to enter. Also, the distinguishing features of this device are its democratic price and the lack of technical parameters, which, by definition, for an elderly person, unlike a younger one, are not so in demand. These parameters include: a large amount of memory, a huge speed of measuring sugar levels and the ability to connect to a computer.
Also the most preferred devices include:
- Glumeter "One Touch".
- Glucometer "Select Simple".
- Accu-Chek Glucometer.
It should also be remembered that when choosing such a device for a person in years, it is necessary to payattention to the prevalence of test strips for this model, so that in the future you do not have to waste your time in unsuccessful searches, and to their size. In addition, it is not recommended to purchase them very small, which will only make them difficult for older people to use later.
Gluemeter strips as a major cost item
As practice shows, the initial price of a glucometer is practically nothing compared to the amount that will later need to be spent on the regular purchase of test strips. That is why, before buying a device, it is recommended to compare prices for them for this and other models.
But it is worth noting that the cheap price of glucometer strips should not be a reason to buy a low-quality device, the measurement accuracy of which may leave much to be desired. Remember that this device is not purchased for show, but for your he alth, and not only to prevent further possible complications during the course of diabetes, but also to increase life expectancy. In addition, as practice shows, it is not recommended to buy test strips in individual packaging, it is better to opt for those that are sold in "collective" packaging. This choice is justified by the fact that after opening the “collective” package, the remaining test strips will deteriorate if they are not used on time. Therefore, this property of them in a certain way stimulates the patient to regularly check the level of sugar in the body, which in the future in a positive wayaffects the overall course of the disease.
What is best for young people?
When choosing a glucometer for young people (12-30 years old), it is better to stop your choice on those that are in the highest demand:
- Accu Chek Glucometer.
- Glumeter "Jimate"
- Glucometer "UltraEasy"
This choice is due to the fact that for young people the issues of compactness, speed of measurement and other technical bells and whistles are very relevant. As an example, we can cite the Gmate Smart model, which is by far the most compact model, since it is connected through the headphone jack in the iPhone, and the workflow itself takes place through a small mobile application. Also worth noting is the Accu Chek Mobile glucometer, a distinctive feature of which is the use of small drops of blood and special test cassettes that use a film very similar to that used in tape recorders a few years ago. It is on her then that a small drop of blood will need to be applied. The period of determining the level of glucose in the blood of this model is 5 seconds, and the number of possible determinations is two thousand. In addition, Accu-Chek Mobile blood glucose meters do not use coding. The device itself is already pre-equipped with a special piercing pen, inside of which there is a drum with thin lancets. To use the pen, one click is enough, which first of all saves a person from opening packages with test strips and further installation into the measuring device, andit also completely eliminates the need to store the lancing device and to change the lancets frequently. The only negative that this glucometer has is the price of the device itself and special test cassettes.
Intermittent Glucose Meter
Given the high prevalence of diabetes today, many doctors recommend that patients check their sugar levels from time to time. Such models can carry out, let's say, passive control:
- Glucometer "SelectSimple".
- Glucometer "TS Kontur".
The correct choice of these particular models is confirmed by several points at once:
- For the "Select Simple" glucometer, test strips are sold, 25 units in one jar.
- The strips used in the "TS circuit" are completely isolated from contact with oxygen and can be stored for a long time.
- Besides, both devices do not need to be coded.
How the meter is used
As mentioned above, a glucometer is an almost invaluable item for people suffering from a disease such as diabetes. Also, a distinctive feature of modern devices is that they store a record of the previous measurement of the level of sugar in the body, which allows you not only to look at your past result, but also to compare indicators.
The very use of this measuringThe device is not only quite simple, but also does not require special knowledge in medicine. All that is needed is to prick the tip of your finger (the procedure is fully automated) and apply the protruding drop of blood to a special strip, which is also called a glucometer test. Further, all that remains to be done is to wait just a few seconds (at this time, information about the sugar level is read) and see the displayed numbers on the display.
Also, speaking about the advantages of using this device, do not forget that it provides constant, prompt and, most importantly, reliable control of blood glucose levels. In addition, do not forget about the high accuracy of the measurements, which will not only allow you to get the most accurate picture of the state of your body, but also avoid the occurrence of various complications, which, as a rule, in most cases are companions of this disease.
Glumeter "One Touch"
Let's take a look at one of the latest devices from Lifescan, which is deservedly in high demand around the world. One of its major advantages over other models is a completely Russified menu, which greatly simplifies the procedure for getting acquainted with its principle of operation. It is also worth noting the unique function of this device, namely, the food mark. If this function is enabled, then the glucose results can be divided - before meals and after meals. This function is very convenient for those people who want to know how he eats and highlight the foods that affect the decrease.or an increase in blood sugar levels. In addition, thanks to the sound notification of an excessively high glucose level, you can be sure either that you are completely safe or that the situation is aggravating. This blood sugar meter comes standard with:
- Meter itself with battery.
- A pack of 10 test strips.
- Piercing pen.
- Lancets (10 pcs.).
Another happy event was that quite recently the test strips used in these meters began to be produced with the same code. Thanks to this approach, it became possible to set the code once, without further reinstallation.
Glucometer "TS Kontur"
Made in Japan, this device is in high demand among both the younger generation and the older one. But for the sake of truth, it should be noted that, nevertheless, it has acquired great popularity among people over 40. First of all, this is due to its ease of operation and the use of “no coding” technology, which does not involve the use of any code chip settings or digital input. values. Thanks to this function, errors that could occur if you had to enter a digital code are completely eliminated. It is especially worth noting that now there is no need to independently check the test strip code, since everything is fully automated in it. I would also like to add a few words about its high measurement accuracy, which was tested and subsequently confirmed by European medicallaboratories.
The advantages that the "Kontur TS" glucometer has include:
- Big screen and accessible interface.
- Coding for blood plasma.
- Bright orange test strip port making it easy to see for visually impaired people.
There is one more reason why the TS Circuit is popular: it is a glucometer, the price of which is quite affordable for the elderly, The only thing to remember when using this device is that the lancets and test strips are disposable.
