Do I Need To Figure Out How To Use A Cgm Device On My Own
It takes time and patience to understand how a CGM device works. But you dont have to do it alone. Your provider will need to prescribe a CGM device .
Once you have a CGM, a qualified professional helps you learn how to use it safely. Your provider may recommend taking a diabetes education class or speaking one-on-one with a certified diabetes educator .
Can I Stop Doing Fingerstick Checks To Monitor My Blood Sugar If I Have A Cgm Device
No. Fingerstick checks will still be an essential tool for you to manage diabetes.
Because fingerstick checks measure glucose levels in your blood, they provide the best picture of what your glucose level is at the precise moment you take it. CGM measures glucose under your skin, which shows where your glucose levels were five to 10 minutes ago.
With diabetes, certain things can make glucose levels rise or fall quickly. Big or fast changes in blood glucose levels can be dangerous. Doing a fingerstick check can provide important information to help you take action to protect your health. It can also act as a backup tool to confirm CGM results.
Advanced Features And New Developments In The Blood Glucose Monitoring Device
Summary
If you are looking for a glucose monitoring device with an advanced feature, look for the latest models of glucometers. These days, lots of brands are manufacturing tech-friendly glucometers. However, you may have to pay more for buying such glucose meters.
The latest models of glucometer devices integrate some advanced features. The advanced features that you can find in the glucometers include the wireless connection, multi-parameter mode, and speaking mode.
- Wireless network models: The wireless network models of glucose monitors make it easier to send the data to a tracking platform.
- Multi-parametric models: Monitors with the multi-parameter feature integrate the features of a thermometer, lactometer, and ketosis reader to measure other parameters as well. It is suitable for the patients suffering from other health issues along with diabetes.
- Speaking mode models: Meters with speaking mode are suitable for people with visual impairments. They do not need manual coding but allow step by step vocalization process. It help such diabetes patients to do self-monitoring of their blood glucose levels.
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Regular Blood Tests With Your Doctor
In addition to daily monitoring, you should be having a blood test every three months to check yourHb A1c. Hb A1c is a measure of your average blood glucose level over three months. Hb A1c test is a good indicator for how well your diabetes treatment plans have been going overall. Your target levels may differ from someone else due to your age or what medications you may be taking to help with your diabetes management.
Monitoring Your Blood Glucose Levels
People who take insulin need to self-monitor their blood glucose levels. Your health professional will help you decide when and how often you should check your blood glucose levels, and your target range.
People with diabetes registered on the NDSS will be eligible to receive a free blood glucose meter associated with their preferred new brand of blood glucose testing strips.
Your doctor or diabetes educator can help you choose the meter thats best for you. Your diabetes educator or pharmacist can show you how to use your meter to get accurate results.
To find out which meters are suitable for NDSS-funded blood glucose monitoring strips, as well as how to get one of these meters, read How to access a free blood glucose meter.
Blood glucose meters are also sold as kits giving you all the equipment that you need to start. There are many types, offering different features and at different prices to meet individual needs. Most of these are available from pharmacies and some diabetes centres. You may also be able to purchase them from your local pharmacy or state or territory diabetes organisation if they have a shop.
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What If I Cant Get A Drop Of Blood For A Fingerstick
If you want to get blood from your fingertip, try washing your hands in hot water to get the blood flowing. Then dangle your hand below your heart for a minute. Prick your finger quickly and then put your hand back down below your heart. You might also try slowly squeezing the finger from the base to the tip.
Monitoring For Complications What Else Do I Need To Know
If you have diabetes, you will require ongoing check-ups to monitor for any diabetes-related complications. These routine examinations are important as early detection of any microvascular or macrovascular complications can lead to early interventions and treatment that may be able to reverse complications or prevent them from progressing further.
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How Accurate Are Blood Glucose Meters
In 2013, new and tighter accuracy standards were issued for blood glucose meters to achieve. The previous accuracy guidelines were issued in 2003.
Where a blood glucose has met the 2013 ISO standards, we have included this fact within our meter reviews. Because of the possible implications if they are inaccurate, most manufacturers make certain that their products give accurate readings. However, testing the meter regularly to ensure that it is still accurate is a good idea, as meters can become less accurate over time.
Complications Of High And Low Blood Sugar Levels
If you dont get treatment, high blood sugar levels can lead to long-term complications, including:
Before checking your blood glucose levels, make sure that you have:
- a finger-stick device to prick your finger, such as a lancet
- an alcohol swab to sterilize the puncture site
- a blood glucose monitor
- a bandage if bleeding continues beyond a few drops
Also, depending on the type of test youre taking, you may need to adjust your meal schedule or time it around your meal, depending on your doctors instructions.
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When Should I Call The Doctor
Reach out to your provider if you have any questions about how to use a CGM device safely.
Very high or low blood sugar levels can be dangerous when left untreated for too long. In the most severe cases, this can lead to seizures, coma or even death. You can avoid these complications by keeping blood sugar levels in a healthy range. Call your provider if you have any symptoms youre worried about.
Common symptoms of high blood sugar include:
- More frequent urination .
How To Use A Glucometer
Oftentimes, unless you have met with a certified diabetes educator, your healthcare provider may have given you a prescription for a glucometer without explicitly telling you how to use it. And while most instruction manuals are user-friendly, this task can seem daunting if you are new to testing or not that technologically savvy. Follow these guidelines for safe and easy testing.
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Why Pet Owners Need A Home
The home-based blood glucose monitoring system can be a very useful tool for people with a diabetic pet. This is because blood glucose readings are the most accurate when measured under normal conditions for your pet. So that there is less of a chance for any irrelevant fluctuations. Moreover, regular readings can help your veterinarian better monitor and control the disease. This helps determine if the pets current insulin type is working as expected and if the dose of the insulin is suitable for the pet.
When taking a blood glucose test at your vets clinic, the reading may not represent the true picture. This is because pets, especially cats, get stressed when restricted to a cage or when they are in an unfamiliar place for a long period of time. Some pets may even lose their appetite. Such conditions are not normal for the animal. And this makes their blood glucose reading inaccurate.
Hence, a home-based blood glucose monitoring system for your diabetic pet is what veterinarians usually suggest, especially when your pets diabetes is well maintained and you just need to keep a record for follow-ups. Moreover, performing a home-based blood glucose test on your pet is quite simple and you can perform it quickly and at your convenience.
The Big Picture: Checking Your Blood Sugar
Blood sugar monitoring is the primary tool you have to find out if your blood glucose levels are within your target range. This tells you your blood glucose level at any one time.
Its important for blood sugar levels to stay in a healthy range. If glucose levels get too low, we can lose the ability to think and function normally. If they get too high and stay high, it can cause damage or complications to the body over the course of many years.
The logging of your results is vital. When you bring your log to your healthcare provider, youll have a good picture of your body’s response to your diabetes care plan. To help keep track of your levels, we have a glucose log. We also have a blood glucose log available for purchase that is smaller so you can carry it with you.
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How Are You Going With Your Diabetes Health Checks
Regular checks can reduce your risks of developing serious diabetes-related complications like problems with your feet, eyes, heart and kidneys. Individual members of your health care team will let you know how often you need checks, so you can schedule them into your calendar.
Read more in our fact sheet Your annual cycle of care or listen to our Annual cycle of care podcasts.
How To Prevent Inaccurate Results
Sometimes you might get a blood glucose result that doesnt fit with how you feel. For example, you may get a reading that says your blood glucose levels are low, but you arent exhibiting any symptoms of hypoglycaemia. If this happens, take a second reading or try testing on an alternative glucose meter if you have access to one.
Its also important to make sure that you wash your hands thoroughly and dry them before conducting the finger prick test. If you dont wash your hands properly after eating and before testing, you may contaminate the results. This can occur because of any food residue or crumbs left on your fingers, could provide a falsely high reading.
If you dont dry your hands thoroughly after washing them, then you may get a falsely lowered blood glucose reading! Any water left on your finger may dilute your blood when youre testing your glucose levels.
You can also prevent inaccurate results by doing the following:
- Ensure test strips arent expired
- Ensure the test strips match the glucose meter some glucose meters have specific test strips
- Draw enough blood for the test strip
- Dont let the test strip with the blood drop dry before putting it in the glucose meter insert the strip right away
- Keep the glucose meter clean by storing the meter in a clean dry area to avoid dust getting on the sensor
- Keep the battery fully charged
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Tips For Using Glucose Meters
When using a glucose meter to check your blood sugar levels, its important to have clean fingers, as the accuracy of your test can be impacted by the presence of food or contaminants on your fingers. For those times when you cant wash your hands before you test, you may want to carry some finger wipes with you. However, if you do clean your finger first, be sure to have it dry before testing.
Just like insulin, glucose meters and strips can be affected by low or high temperatures, so remember not to leave your blood glucose monitor in your car, in direct sunlight, or anywhere that gets extremely hot or cold. Some types of meters are more sensitive than others to high and low temperatures. See the insert in the meter package or visit the manufacturers website for more specific storage instructions.
It might be tempting to leave your glucometer at home however, knowing how your blood sugar levels are trending will help you avoid instances of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia . Remember to pack your lancing device too, its usually in the case with the meter so double check that you have it in it.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems
Continuous glucose monitoring systems measure glucose concentrations in the interstitial fluid. Two types of devices are available. The real time CGM provides information directly to the user by displaying moment-tomoment absolute glucose levels and trending arrows, and by providing alarm notifications in the event that the glucose level is above or below a preset limit. A blinded CGM captures, but does not display, the glucose readings, which are then downloaded onto a computer for viewing and retrospective analysis by the health-care provider .
CGM technology incorporates a subcutaneously inserted sensor, an attached transmitter and, in the case of real-time CGM, a display unit . In professional CGM, the transmitter captures and retains the data. In Canada, 2 real-time CGM and 2 professional CGM are available. Real-time CGM has been consistently shown to reduce A1C in both adults and children with type 1 diabetes with and without CSII, and to reduce A1C in adults with type 2 diabetes . Real-time CGM also has been shown to reduce the time spent in hypoglycemia . Professional CGM has been shown to reduce A1C in adults with type 2 diabetes and in pregnant women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes .
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How We Chose Glucose Monitors And Meters
Above all, we included glucose monitors that are reportedly the most accurate. Since home meters are designed to help you monitor your glucose in between laboratory work from your doctors visits, its important that your device provides the most accurate results possible.
While no home test will be as accurate as a lab version, getting as close as possible to the quality of such tests can help provide peace of mind as well as better diabetes management.
Other items we looked at include:
We included glucose meters across a variety of features and price points. The cost of CGMs and blood glucose meters can vary widely based on their features, your insurance coverage, and location. Cost is also subject to change over time based on the type of insurance you have, so be sure to check with your carrier for the most accurate price.
Symptoms Diagnosis And Monitoring Of Diabetes
Nearly 33 million American adults have Type 2 diabetes and many dont know it. Type 1 diabetes often remains undiagnosed until symptoms become so severe that hospitalization is required.
Both of these facts speak to a larger truth: Left untreated, diabetes can cause many health complications. Thats why its crucial to know the warning signs and to see a healthcare professional regularly for routine wellness screenings.
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How Do I Check
People with diabetes check their blood sugar levels by poking their fingertips and using a blood glucose meter or a continuous glucose monitor to measure the blood glucose level at that moment. Read on to find out how to use a blood glucose meter. To find out more about CGMs, start by talking to your doctor.
Invasive Glucometers Or The Glucometer With Testing Strips
Blood testing meters that use testing strips are the more popular type of glucose meter in the market. There are lots of brands that manufacture such type of glucose monitoring device. They are simple to use and give accurate results. These are portable, easy to use, and invasive glucose meters. You need to use your blood sample to test your blood sugar levels. They are affordable as well. The characteristics of invasive glucose monitoring devices differ from one model to another. Some of the features of invasive glucose monitors are:
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Things To Consider While Buying A Glucometer
There was a time when monitoring blood glucose levels were not so easy. People have to visit pathology and wait for their turn to give the blood sample for a glucose test. Thankfully, glucometers have ended the stress of visiting pathology for getting their blood sugar levels checked. If you also want to keep track of your sugar level at home, it is worthy to invest in a quality glucometer. Here are some tips to consider while buying a glucometer:
Apart from these, you can also look for the other features in glucometers. You can look for audio compatibility, having USB connectivity mode, the backlight to enhance the readability of the readings. Some glucometers provide multiple test checks. You can check body ketone levels, record carbohydrates grams and insulin dose in addition to the blood glucose level.
Notes For Buying Online
When browsing for glucose monitors online, youll notice that some versions, such as the Rite Aid TrueMetrix, are available for purchase over the counter, while CGMs, such as the FreeStyle Libre or Dexcom G6, are not.
This is because youll need a doctors prescription to get a CGM system. However, you dont need a prescription for the basic fingerstick meters weve included on our list. With a prescription, you may be able to buy a CGM from a medical supply store online.
If you do decide to purchase a glucose monitor or meter online, be sure you know the total costs up front, including any test strips, extra sensors, lancets, and accessories that may be sold separately. You might also consider setting up these accessories on an auto-ship basis so you dont run out.
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How Often Should I Check My Blood Glucose Levels At Home
It depends! If you have prediabetes, the recommendation for how often you should check your blood glucose levels depends on a number of factors. These factors are individual and will be based on your treatment plan. This includes any oral medications you are taking, if youre using insulin, and any lifestyle changes. Other factors that can affect how often you check your blood glucose levels, include your Hb A1c levels, your risk of hypoglycaemia , and your treatment goals.
If you are at risk of hypoglycaemia, for example due to insulin or taking certain oral medications, then regularly monitoring your blood glucose levels is useful.
If there have been any changes to your medications, including requiring more insulin needles or testing different oral medications, regular blood glucose monitoring is also useful.