Methods Of Testing Blood Sugar Levels
Detailed in this article are 5 different methods you can use to test the sugar levels in your blood. They use different approaches, but these diabetes testing methods are used for the same purpose. The best one for you is dependent on personal preference rather than anything else.
1. Blood sugar monitoring at home. This is the most commonly used method. It involves pricking your finger with a sharp needle (professionally designed for this purpose). Having done this, you then need to squeeze some blood from your finger on to a testing strip. The test trip is then inserted into a meter which displays your blood sugar level.
2. Alternative meter test kits. Over time, meters which allow you to test blood taken from various parts of your body, not just your finger tip, have been developed; possible parts to test include: the base of your thumb, your thighs and your forearms. Despite these additional options drawing blood from your finger tips remains the most used. The reason being that the blood in your finger tips gives a more precise reading than blood in other parts of your body.
3. Blood testing by laser. Sometime in 1998, a laser device that was capable of extracting blood from a finger was approved by the FDA (Food & Drug Administration).. The development of the device was a result of the widespread complaints about the pain and inpractibility of existing methods. For those who are not at ease with piercing their skin with a needle, this is an ideal solution.
4. The continuous glucose monitoring system. This method utilizes a very small tube that can be left under your skin. The device then collects small amounts of fluids and measures the sugar levels or content of these fluids over a 72 hour period. For people who sometimes forget, or don't always have time, to take their own samples, this underused system should be given serious consideration.
5. 'Gluco Watch' device. Officially released after approval by the FDA is 2001, the Gluco Watch is a device that you wear on your wrist. This watch-like meter helps you to measure your blood sugar levels three times per hour over a 12 hour period. As a non invasive method, it's become increasingly popular since it was made available.