Instructions for use of the glucometer

When purchasing a glucometer, the instructions for use should be one of the most important components of the entire kit. After all, it is not always clear how to use this device correctly and how to set it up.

Mechanical setting. In this case, you will have to tinker a little. First, you need to insert the batteries. Then set the date and time. This is done simply, you need to hold down the main button and wait for the sound signal. The device will turn on, and then turn off the power for a while. Then, using the up and down buttons, set the date, time and other functions. After that, you can start using it.

The lancet is inserted into the socket, screwed on and the required mark for taking a blood sample is selected by rotating the device. Then the lancet is pulled back to the stop and becomes completely ready for use. After this, you can start taking blood. The test strip must be inserted into a special port. Then, using the lancet, the finger pad is pierced and drops of blood are applied to the test strip. The result will be known in 8 seconds.

Automatic setup. There is nothing complicated in using such a device. Everything is set up automatically. Blood sampling is carried out in exactly the same way. Therefore, when choosing a device, it is worth looking at personal preferences, and starting only from them.

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Indications for use of a glucometer

The main indications for using a glucometer are diabetes mellitus type 1 and type 2. Naturally, there are devices that show cholesterol levels and blood clotting.

But mainly, it is used by people suffering from diabetes mellitus to determine the glucose content. There are no other indications. In fact, everything becomes clear from the definition itself.

But, despite this, without consulting your doctor, you should not use the device. Even if you are suffering from diabetes. Because there are a number of reasons why it is better to exclude it.

In general, this is a universal device that allows you to quickly determine the sugar level. Thanks to this, it became possible to quickly react in situations where it is vital. Because the glucose level can both increase and decrease. The device, in turn, will confirm this in a matter of seconds and allow the person to inject insulin. Therefore, if possible, it is necessary to use this device.

Characteristics of glucometers

The main characteristics of glucometers must meet all the stated needs of the user. So, there are multifunctional devices, and there are the simplest ones. But whatever the device, it is important that it shows an accurate result.

When buying a glucometer, a person should pay attention to its accuracy. For this, the test is carried out without leaving the store. But to be completely sure of this characteristic, you need to bring a laboratory analysis of the sugar level with you. Then you can test the device, it is advisable to do this three times. The data obtained should not differ from each other by more than 5-10%, this is an acceptable error.

This is probably the most important characteristic of the device. It is important that the result obtained by it as a whole does not exceed the 20% barrier. Only after that can you look at the functionality, display and other little things.

The device may have a voice control function, as well as a sound signal. In addition, the device is able to save the latest data and easily display it on the screen if necessary. But no matter how you look at it, the device must be accurate.

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Calibration of the glucometer

As a rule, glucometer calibration is either by plasma or by blood. There is nothing complicated in these concepts. In any case, a person should not think about this issue at all.

It is worth noting that this characteristic is set by the developers, and a person cannot change it independently. So, initially, when conducting laboratory tests, blood was divided into fractions. After that, the components were analyzed. Therefore, the sugar level was determined by plasma. But in relation to the entire amount of blood, this value is much smaller.

So it is necessary to understand how to use devices with different calibrations. If the device analyzes blood, then everything is simple. The obtained value is the most accurate. But what to do if the result is for plasma. In this case, the obtained value is simply multiplied by 1.11.

Naturally, in order not to torment yourself with calculations and incomprehensible tasks, it is better to immediately choose a device that has calibration for whole blood.

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How to set up a glucometer?

After the purchase has been made, the natural question is how to set up the glucometer. In fact, there is nothing complicated in this process. The first thing you need to do is install the batteries.

Now you can set the coding. With the device turned off, place the port in the base of the time. You need to install it in the base by moving it down. When everything is done correctly, a click will appear.

Next, you need to set the date, time and units of measurement. To enter the settings, you need to hold down the main button for 5 seconds. After that, a beep will sound, so the memory data appeared on the display. Now you need to hold down the button again until the setup data is available. Before a person can proceed to the settings, the device will turn off for a while. During this process, the button cannot be released.

To set the date, simply use the up and down buttons and thus set the desired time. A similar procedure is repeated for units of measurement. After each change, you need to press the main button so that all data is saved.

Next, you need to prepare the lancet device. Its upper part opens, and the lancet is inserted into the socket. Then the protective tip of the device is unscrewed and screwed back. By rotating the device, you can select the required mark for taking a blood sample. The lancet device is pulled back to the stop in the upper part and is ready for use.

Now you can start taking blood. It is done simply. The test strip is inserted into the port until you hear a beep. Then the lancet device is applied to the finger pad and punctures it. The blood is carefully injected into the device. The main thing is that there is not a lot of "raw material", because there is a risk of contamination of the coding port. You need to touch the blood input with a drop of blood and hold your finger until you hear a beep. The result will appear on the screen in 8 seconds.

Glucometer test strips

When using the device, the test strips for the glucometer are one of the most important components. They are used to determine the sugar level. Glucose gets on the strip and thus an electric current is formed, on the basis of which the study is carried out.

Buying test strips should be done with special seriousness. Experts recommend paying attention to them, and not to the device itself. After all, the obtained result depends on the quality of these components.

It is important to have some knowledge in terms of storing test strips. To do this, you should consider your own needs and not buy too many. A few pieces are enough for the first time. The main thing is not to allow the strips to come into contact with air or direct sunlight for a long time. Otherwise, they may deteriorate and give a completely different result.

Another important point, when choosing test strips, you should also consider compatibility with the device. Because there are no universal components, everything must be carefully selected. In this case, the device will be able to show the correct result.

Lancets for glucometer

What are glucometer lancets? These are special devices that are involved in the process of puncturing the skin in order to collect blood for analysis. This "component" allows you to avoid unnecessary damage to the skin, as well as painful sensations. The lancet itself is made of sterile material, so it is perfect for everyone.

The needles of the device must have a minimum diameter. This will help to avoid pain. The diameter of the needle pen determines the length and width of the puncture, and based on this, the speed of blood flow. All needles are sterilized and are in individual packages.

With the help of a lancet, you can not only determine the level of glucose, but also the content of cholesterol, hemoglobin, clotting speed and much more. So in some way it is a universal product. The model is selected taking into account the existing device and the purpose for which the lancet is purchased. The right choice subsequently eliminates the formation of calluses and growths-scars.

During the production of lancets, the type and thickness of the skin are taken into account. Therefore, even babies can use such "components". This is a disposable product for individual use. So you need to buy a lancet taking into account a single piercing. Without this component, the device cannot work.

Glucose meter pen

What is a glucometer pen for? It is a special device that allows you to inject insulin in cases where a person has forgotten about this action. The pen can combine both electronic and mechanical components.

The dose is dialed using a special rotating wheel. During this process, the dialed dose is displayed in the side window. There is a special display on the button on the handle. It remembers the dose entered and the time it was entered.

This will allow parents to control the insulin injection of their children. This invention is perfect for small children. The dose is easily adjusted by turning the switch in both directions.

In general, without this invention it would not be so simple. You can buy it in any specialized store. In this case, the compatibility of the device and the handle is not important at all. After all, this is not a component of the device, but simply its addition. Such an invention is perfect for both children and adults. Therefore, when purchasing such a device, you should take care of this component.

How to use a glucometer?

There is nothing scary about using a glucometer. If a person is doing it for the first time, then there is clearly no need to worry. So, the first thing you need to do is puncture the skin with a lancet.

Usually, this component comes with the device. In some models, it is built-in. After the puncture is done, you need to bring the blood to the test strip. It contains special substances that can change its color, depending on the sugar level. Again, the test strip can be either included in the kit or built into the device.

It is also worth noting that some devices allow you to take blood not only from your fingers, but also from your shoulder and forearm. This point is clear. When the blood is on the test strip, the device will start working, and after 5-20 seconds, the display will show the numbers showing the glucose level. Using the device is not at all difficult. The device saves the result automatically.

Glucometer expiration date

What is the shelf life of a glucometer and can it be increased in any way? What is most interesting is that this criterion depends on how a person used the device. If it was used carefully, the device will last for more than one year.

True, this expression has its own nuances. Much depends on the battery itself. So, basically it is enough for literally 1000 measurements, and this is equal to a year of work. Therefore, this fact should be taken into account.

In general, this is a device that does not have a specific shelf life. As mentioned above, everything depends on how a person handles it. After all, it is easy to damage the device.

It is important to monitor its appearance. Do not allow the use of expired components. In this case, we mean the test strip and lancet. All this can significantly reduce the operating time of the device. Therefore, its shelf life directly depends on how it is handled. So, this information is worth having if you want to use the device for more than one year.

Manufacturers of glucometers

The main manufacturers of glucometers that are worth paying attention to must meet certain standards. Thus, in recent years, more and more new devices have appeared. Moreover, their variety is so great that it is almost impossible to choose the best of them. After all, they are all good and have a minimum of disadvantages.

Thus, recently devices from Abbott (brand line Medisense), Bayer (Ascensia), Johnson & Johnson (One Touch), Microlife (Bionime), Roche (Accu-Check) have appeared. All of them are new and have an improved design. But this has not changed the operating principle.

It is worth paying attention to the photometric devices Accu-Check Go and Accu-Check Active. But you need to understand that they have a high error. So, the leading positions remain for electromechanical devices. A number of new products on the market, such as Bionime Rightest GM 500 and OneTouch Select, have good characteristics. True, they are configured manually, many devices today do this automatically.

Medisense Optium Xceed and Accu-Chek have proven themselves well. It is worth paying attention to such devices. They are not expensive, easy to use, and yes, so much so that even a child can independently check the glucose level. When choosing a device, you need to look not at its name, but at its functionality. More details regarding some models of glucometers will be discussed below.

Contraindications for using a glucometer

Despite the excellent reviews, there are contraindications for using a glucometer. In no case should venous blood be taken to determine glucose levels. Serum is also not suitable for this, as well as capillary "material" that is stored for more than 30 minutes.

If a person has blood thinning or thickening, the device should not be used under any circumstances. A similar rule applies to those moments when a person has consumed ascorbic acid. The results may not be accurate.

Patients with malignant tumors should refuse the device. The same applies to people with severe infections and massive edema. If there are violations in the use of the device or its components. This may affect the accuracy of the result.

And in general, you can't do this without consulting a doctor. This can lead to complications of an existing problem. And a lot depends on what type of diabetes a person has. After all, some people are still prohibited from using this device.

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Glucometer readings

People who use this device should know the basic indicators of the glucometer. Naturally, it is good when the device itself "says" that the glucose level is exceeded or, on the contrary, decreased. But what to do if this function is not available? In this case, you need to be able to independently understand what the number in front of a person is and what it means.

So, there is a special table that shows the device readings and the actual glucose level. The scale starts at 1.12 and ends at 33.04. But this is the device's data, how can you understand the sugar content from it? So, the reading of 1.12 is equal to 1 mmol/l of sugar. The next figure in the table is 1.68, which corresponds to a value of 1.5. Thus, the reading is constantly increasing by 0.5.

Visually, it will be easier to understand the work of the table. But it is best to resort to buying a device that automatically calculates everything. For a person who uses the device for the first time, this will be much easier. Such a device is not expensive, everyone can afford it.

Glucometer Reviews

Positive reviews of glucometers are probably the most common. Because there is nothing bad to say about these devices. They are able to show the glucose level in a matter of seconds. Moreover, if the sugar is exceeded, then the required amount of insulin is injected using a syringe pen.

Previously, it was not so easy to control glucose levels. You had to visit a doctor and undergo periodic examinations. There was no special opportunity to monitor sugar levels on your own. Today, it is very easy to do.

Therefore, there can be no negative reviews regarding these inventions. They are compact, which allows you to carry these devices with you at all times. Thanks to this, you can check your sugar level at any time. No inconvenience, everything is fast and convenient. Even children can use the devices. Special displays show data on the last check and insulin injection, which is very convenient. Therefore, the glucometer is a universal and convenient tool that has only positive reviews.