Here are few options you can use to test your blood sugar with diabetes: 1.
Blood sugar monitoring at home: This method is the most common.
It involves pricking your finger with a sharp needle (professionally designed for).
You will then need to squeeze the finger in order to obtain a drop of blood which you will then place on a test strip.
This test strip will then be placed into a meter which will in turn determine you blood sugar level.
The meters on the market today come in different shapes sizes and features, but they all provide the exact same information - your blood sugar level.
These test kits are available at your local pharmacy, and in some cases you can find free test kits on the Internet, but again, you have to be vigilant.
2.
Alternative meter test kits.
Over the years, newer meters now allow you to test body parts other than your fingertip; these include your upper arms, your forearms, the base of your thumb, and your thighs.
Despite these additional options drawing blood from your finger tips remains the most used.
This is simply because the blood sugar level in your finger tips, show changes way quicker than any other part of the body.
Why is this important? Simple.
After exercise, or a meal your blood sugar tends to fluctuate quite a bit.
This is why the finger tip remains the most popular.
3.
Drawing blood through laser.
Sometime in 1998 the Food And Drug (FDA) administration approved a meter laser device capable of extracting blood through a precise laser beam on a finger.
This device was really in response to the numerous complaints of discomfort and pain caused by the regular pricking of the finger.
4.
The continuous glucose monitoring system.
This device involves a very small tube which is inserted under your skin.
The device then collects small amounts of fluids and measures the sugar content of these fluids over a 72 hour period.
5.
The Gluco Watch.
Again, the FDA approved in 2001 the GlucoWatch which is device that is like a watch.
This watch-like meter helps the diabetes patient measure his or her blood sugar level three times per hour over a 12 hour period.
This is one of the first diabetes testing meter that that is really non invasive.
All these diabetes testing meters perform one and the same thing - some less, and others more.
However, all the newer devices are still being rigorously tested.
Maybe, one day, the pricking of your finger will become something of the past, but today, this method remains the most reliable, and the most popular.
As long as you know what your normal blood sugar range should be, it doesn't really matter which diabetes testing method you use.
Here is a sample blood sugar level chart: Normal blood glucose levels: 70-110mg before meals and 70-140 mg after breakfast, lunch or dinner.
For people with diabetes the preferred blood glucose levels should be: 90-130mg before meals and after meals it should not rise to above 180mg.
It is important to remember that the body gets its sugar from your daily carbohydrate intake.
Lowering your carbohydrate intake is a proactive way to help lower your blood sugar level.
Having diabetes is unarguably an inconvenience, but if you manage your diabetes properly you will still be able to "breathe in" and continue to enjoy life to the fullest.
Do not hesitate to contact your doctor for additional diabetes testing info.