The device for measuring blood sugar. How to choose a glucometer: doctor's advice

One of the most common diseases of the 21st century is considered to be diabetes. And in order that this disease did not lead to severe and irreparable consequences, it is necessary to follow the blood sugar level without fail. To greatly facilitate the life of a person and save him from constant calls to a medical institution, a device was created to measure blood sugar or, as it is also called, a glucometer. In today's article, we'll look at what you should pay attention to when choosing this device.

History of its origin

The issue of monitoring the level of sugar in the blood worried the doctors back in the 50s of last century. Then, for this purpose, special test strips were used, with the help of which it was possible to determine the amount of glucose in the urine ("Klinistiks system") or blood ("Detrostics system"). But given the fact that the determination of glucose level occurred only visually, there was a very high error in conducting such a diagnosis.

Therefore, 20 years later, the world's first device for measuring blood sugar was developed. His activity was based on the transformation of a light signal, which was reflected from the colored test strips, to the index of the numerical value of sugar in the human body. From the shortcomings of these devices can be identified that the test strips used in them needed to be rinsed after each use.

After this, the gradual improvement of these drugs began. For example, you can note the appearance of devices that use a non-erasable test strip for the glucometer. A distinctive feature of these devices is the possibility of taking blood not only from the fingers, but also from the forearm. In addition, only one drop of blood is sufficient to determine the level of sugar. The result is usually known within 30 seconds.

To date, glucometers are divided into the following categories:

1. For people aged and diagnosed with "diabetes mellitus."
2. For people of younger age and also having an established diagnosis of diabetes.
3. For people who are likely to have this disease.

Classification of glucometers

To date, such devices can be:

• Photometric, determining the level of sugar in the blood, depending on the color of the test areas. The color varies depending on the reaction of glucose to the substance deposited on the strip. But it is worth noting that this technology is considered a little outdated.
• Electromechanical. In these devices, the value of sugar is measured by the magnitude of the current. This opportunity 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 the accuracy of their determination will be several times higher. In addition, it should be noted that they are also virtually unaffected by external factors. Also, as a rule, these glucometers use a calibration for plasma.
• The 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. However, at the moment this technology is still under development, but judging by the latest research, its results exceed all expectations.

How correctly to measure blood?

It's no secret that the results of measurements made at home can be slightly different from what was done in the laboratory. Therefore, in order to make this difference almost unnoticeable, one should adhere to simple rules, which include:

• Wash hands in warm water and then wipe them off before proceeding with taking the tests.
• Massaging the finger or other areas of the body before taking blood.
• Regular changes in blood sampling sites. This will avoid skin tightening in those places that were used before.
• Do not stab deeply.
• Use only your lancets.
• Do not use the first drop of blood. In addition, make sure that the drop is not smeared.

Remember, it is strictly forbidden to strongly press your finger, as this can lead to mixing of blood with tissue fluid. Also, special care should be taken to protect the test strips from moisture ingress. Therefore, they must be obtained only before use.

Glucometer for the elderly

The device for measuring blood sugar in the elderly has the highest demand. That's why it should be simple enough and reliable. Reliability refers to: the presence of a sturdy body, a large screen and a minimum number of moving devices, which in the course of their work can come to malfunction. Simplicity is determined by the small size and the presence in it of an encoded test strip for a glucometer that works with a special chip, rather than the standard set of buttons and digits that need to be entered. Also, the distinctive features of this device are its democratic price and the lack of technical parameters, which by definition for the elderly person, unlike the younger, are not so much in demand. These parameters include: a large amount of memory, a huge speed of measuring the sugar level and the ability to connect to a computer.

Also the most preferred devices are:

• "One Touch" meter.
• Glucometer "Select Simple".
• Glucometer "Accu-Chek".

It should also be remembered that when choosing such a device for a person in years, it is necessary to pay attention 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 on their size. In addition, it is not recommended to purchase them very small, which subsequently only complicates their use for the elderly.

Strips for the meter as the main cost item

As practice shows, the initial price of a glucometer is practically nothing compared to the amount that in the future it will be necessary to spend on the regular acquisition of test strips. That is why, before buying a device, it is recommended to compare the prices for them for this and other models.

But it is worth noting that the cheap price for strips for a glucometer should not cause a purchase of a poor-quality device, the accuracy of which may leave much to be desired. Remember that this device is purchased not for a "tick", but for your health, and not only to prevent further possible complications during the course of diabetes, but also to increase the life span. In addition, as practice shows, it is not recommended to buy test strips in individual packaging, it is better to choose ones that are sold in a "collective" package. This choice is argued by the fact that after the opening of the "collective" package, the remaining test strips will deteriorate if they are not used in time. Therefore, this property in a certain way stimulates the patient for regular checks of the sugar level in the body, which subsequently has a positive effect on the overall course of the disease.

What is better for young people?

Choosing a glucometer for young people (12-30 years), your choice is better to stop at those that enjoy the highest demand:

• Glucometer "Accu Chek".
• Glucometer "Jimate"
• Glucometer "UltraIzi"

This choice is due to the fact that questions of compactness, measuring speed and other technical issues are very relevant for young people. As an example, you can bring the model Gmate Smart, which is by far the most compact model, as its connection is via the headphone jack in the iPhone, and the workflow itself is via a small mobile application. Also worth noting is the meter "Akku Chek Mobile", the distinguishing feature of which is the use of small drops of blood and special test tapes using a film very similar to the one that several years ago was used in tape recorders. It is on it and then you will need to apply a small drop of blood. The period of determining the blood glucose level by this model is 5 seconds, and the number of possible definitions is two thousand. In addition, the glucose meters "Accu Chek Mobile" do not use the encoding. The device itself is pre-equipped with a special piercing pen, inside which is a drum with thin lancets. To use the pen, one click is enough, which first of all removes the person from opening the packs with test strips and further installation in the measuring device, and completely eliminates the need for storage of the piercing pen and frequent replacement of lancets. The only negative that this meter has is the price of the device itself and special test-cassettes.

Glucometer for periodic measurement of glucose

Given the high prevalence of diabetes at the moment, many doctors recommend that patients from time to time check the level of sugar in their body. To implement, let's say, passive control can such models:

• Glucometer "SelectSimple".
• Glucometer "TC Contour".

The correctness of the choice of these models is confirmed by several moments:

• For the meter "Select Select", test strips of 25 units are sold in one jar.
• The strips used in the "Contour TC" are completely isolated from contact with oxygen and can be stored for a long time.
• In addition, both devices do not need to be coded.

Principle of using the meter

As already mentioned above, the device glucometer is almost an invaluable thing for people suffering from a disease such as diabetes mellitus. Also, the distinctive feature of modern devices is that they keep a record of the previous measurement of the sugar level in the body, which allows you not only to look at your past result, but also compare the indicators.

The very use of this measuring device is not only quite simple, but it does not require special knowledge in medicine. All you need is to prick the tip of the finger (the procedure is fully automated) and apply a drop of blood to a special strip, which is also called the test of glucometers. Further, all that remains to be done is to wait only a few seconds (at this time, information is read about the sugar level) and see the displayed digits on the display.

Also, speaking about the advantages of using this device, do not forget that thanks to it, it is ensured a constant, operative and, most importantly, reliable control over the level of glucose in the blood. In addition, do not forget about the high accuracy of the measurements, which will not only provide the most accurate picture of your body's condition, but also avoid the appearance of various complications, which, as a rule, are the satellites of this disease in most cases.

"One Touch" Glucometer

Consider one of the newest devices from the company Lifescan, which deservedly enjoys high demand throughout the world. One of its serious advantages over other models is a fully Russified menu, which at times simplifies the procedure for acquaintance with its principle of work. Also, it is especially worth noting the unique function of this device, namely, the mark about food. If this function is enabled, the results of glucose measurement can be divided - before and after meals. This function is very convenient for those people who want to learn about how he eats, and to identify products that affect the reduction or increase in blood sugar. In addition, due to the sound notification of an excessively high level of glucose, one can be sure either in its complete safety or in the complication of the situation. This device for measuring blood sugar in its standard configuration contains:

• Sam glucometer with a battery.
• Packing of test strips (10 units).
• Handle for piercing.
• Lancets (10 pcs.).

Another joyful event was that more recently, the test strips used in these glucometers have been produced with the same code. Thanks to this approach, it became possible to expose the code once, without further reinstalling it.

Glucometer "TC Contour"

Manufactured in Japan, this device is in high demand both for the younger generation and for the elderly. But for the sake of truth it should be noted that it's still very popular among people over 40. This is primarily due to its ease of operation and the use of "no coding" technology that does not involve the use of any chip chip settings or the introduction of a digital Values. Due 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 test the code for test strips, since everything is fully automated in it. I would also like to add a few words about its high accuracy of measurements, which was tested and subsequently confirmed by European medical laboratories.

The advantages that the "Contour TS" meter has, are:

• Large screen and accessible interface.
• Encoding for blood plasma.
• A brightly orange port for test strips, making it easily distinguishable for visually impaired people.

One more reason the "Contour TC" model 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 lancets and test strips are disposable.