Does a Diabetic need a Glucose Meter?
Someone who is unable to produce enough insulin or no insulin is someone who has diabetes, and they are having this problem which requires them to use a monitor and control blood sugars by themself. Firstly, there are two types of people with diabetes – Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes. Having injections using needles is the main way a person with Type 1 Diabetes controls and lowers their sugar levels. Type 2 Diabetics are able to control their blood sugars by pills and excercise alone, although they do sometimes need to use Insulin as well when the sugar gets out of control. To know which type of diabetes you have, you will need to get a proper diagnosis by a doctor or physician.
So now we know that a diabetic needs to control their sugar levels. To find out what level their blood sugars are at, whether high or low, a diabetic uses a glucometer to get a blood sugar reading. For those diabetics that cannot afford to purchase a glucose meter outright, their work coverage mght pay for it and you basically get a free glucometer. The way a glucose meter works is that the person testing their sugar levels pricks their finger with a lancet device. This basically draws a small drop of blood from the person fingers so the levels can be measured. Then the diabetic would put a blood strip into the meter, and put the drop of blood on the strip. Normally in about five seconds, or even up to a minute depending on the meter, you will get a reading telling you what your sugar levels are at.
The glucose meter is essential for a diabetic to own so they can test regularly. Without it they may give incorrect dosage of their insulin causing low sugar levels which can be dangerous as a seizure may occur. With the price on meters nowadays it has definately got more affordable. Some companies when you buy a set amount of test strips will give you a free glucometer to be used with your purchased strips. Since many manufacturers make most of the money from the strips purchase, you get that added incentive of a free monitor to be used with their strips. Some more information for finding a free glucometer can be found at http://www.freeglucometer.info/.
