One of the most common diseases 21Century is considered diabetes. And in order for this disease not to lead to serious and irreparable consequences, it is imperative to monitor the level of blood sugar. To make life easier for a person and save him from constant visits to a medical institution, a device was created for measuring blood sugar or, as it is also called, a blood glucose meter. In today's article we will look at what you should pay attention to when choosing this device.
The issue of level controlblood sugar worried doctors even in the 50s of the last century. Then, for this purpose, special test strips were used, with the help of which it was possible to establish the amount of glucose in the urine ("Clinistix system") or blood ("Detrostyx system"). But given the fact that the determination of glucose level occurred only visually, then there was a very high error in conducting such a diagnosis.
Therefore, 20 years later, the first inWorldwide blood sugar meter. His activity was built on the transformation of the light signal, which was reflected from the painted test strips, into an indicator of the numerical value of sugar in the human body. Among the shortcomings of these devices, it is possible to single out the fact that the test strips used in them required compulsory rinsing after each use.
After this began a gradualimprovement of these drugs. For example, we can note the appearance of devices that use non-erasable test strips for the meter. A distinctive feature of these devices is the possibility of drawing blood not only from the fingers, but also from the forearm. In addition, to determine the level of sugar is only one drop of blood. The result, as a rule, becomes known within 30 seconds.
Today, blood glucose meters are divided into the following categories:
Today such devices are:
It is no secret that the results of measurements madeat home, may differ slightly from what was done in the laboratory. Therefore, in order to make this difference almost imperceptible, one should follow simple rules, which include:
Remember, it is strictly forbidden stronglypress your finger, as this can lead to mixing of blood with tissue fluid. Also, special attention should be paid to protecting the test strips from moisture. Therefore, they need to get only before use.
Instrument for measuring blood sugar in the elderlypeople is most in demand. That is why it should be fairly simple and reliable. Reliability includes: the presence of a robust case, a large screen and a minimum number of moving devices that may malfunction in the course of their work. Simplicity is determined by the small size and the presence in it of the coded test strips for the meter, which works with a special chip, and not the standard set of buttons and numbers 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 an elderly person, unlike a younger person, are not so popular. These parameters include: a large amount of memory, tremendous speed of measuring sugar levels and the ability to connect to a computer.
Also among the most preferred devices include:
It should also be remembered that choosing such a devicefor a person in years, it is necessary to pay attention to the prevalence of test strips for this model, so that later they do not have to waste their time in unsuccessful searches, and their size. In addition, it is not recommended to purchase them very small, which subsequently only complicates their use for older people.
As practice shows, the initial priceglucometer is practically nothing compared to the amount that in the future will need to be spent on regular purchase of test strips. That is why, before buying a device, it is recommended to compare their prices for this and other models.
Но стоит отметить, что дешевая цена на полоски for the meter should not be the reason for buying a poor-quality device, the measurement accuracy of which may be poor. 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 lifespan. In addition, as practice shows, it is not recommended to buy test strips in individual packaging, it is better to opt for those that are sold in “collective” packaging. This choice is argued by the fact that after opening the “collective” package, the remaining test strips will deteriorate if they are not used on time. Therefore, this property of them in a certain way stimulates the patient to regularly check the level of sugar in the body, which further has a positive effect on the general course of the disease.
Choosing a blood glucose meter for young people (12-30 years old), it’s better to stop your choice on those that are in the highest demand:
This choice is due to the fact that for youngpeople are very relevant issues of compactness, speed measurement and other technical bells and whistles. As an example, you can bring the model Gmate Smart, which today is the most compact model, because it connects through the headphone jack in the iPhone, and the workflow occurs through a small mobile application. Also worth noting is the Accu Chek Mobile glucometer, the hallmark of which is the use of small drops of blood and special test tapes using a film that is very similar to that used in tape recorders several years ago. It is then that she will need to apply a small drop of blood. The period for determining the level of glucose in the blood of this model is 5 seconds, and the number of possible definitions is two thousand. In addition, the Accu Chek Mobile glucometers do not use encoding. The device itself is already pre-equipped with a special puncturer handle, inside of which is a drum with thin lancets. One click is enough to use the handle, which first of all relieves a person from opening packages with test strips and further installation into the measuring device, and it also completely eliminates the need for storing the piercing pen and frequent replacement of lancets. The only disadvantage that this meter has is the price of the device itself and special test cartridges.
Given the high prevalence of sugardiabetes at the moment, many doctors advise patients to check the sugar level in their bodies from time to time. To carry out, let's say, passive control can such models:
The correctness of the choice of these models is confirmed by several points at once:
The very use of this measuringThe device is not only simple enough, but does not require special knowledge in medicine. All you need is to prick the fingertip (the procedure is fully automated) and apply a drop of blood on a special strip, which is also called the test of blood glucose meters. Further, all that remains to be done is to wait just a few seconds (at this time, reading the information about the level of sugar) and see the displayed numbers on the display.
Also, talking about the benefits of using thisdevice, do not forget that thanks to him, provides constant, operational and, most importantly, reliable monitoring of blood glucose levels. In addition, you should not forget about the high accuracy of the measurements, which not only allows you to get the most accurate picture of your body condition, but also allows you to avoid the appearance of various complications, which, as a rule, in most cases are companions of this disease.
Consider one of the newest devices from the company.Lifescan, which is deservedly in high demand around the world. One of its major advantages over the rest of the models is a fully Russified menu, which at times simplifies the procedure of familiarization with its principle of operation. Also of special note is the unique function of this device, namely, the food mark. If this function is enabled, the glucose measurement results can be divided - before and after meals. This feature is very convenient for those people who want to learn about how it eats, and highlight products that affect the decrease or increase in blood sugar levels. In addition, due to the sound alert of an excessively high glucose level, you can be confident either in your complete safety or in complicating the situation. This blood sugar monitor includes in its standard configuration:
Another joyful event was thatRecently, test strips used in these glucometers began to be produced with the same code. Thanks to this approach, it became possible to set the code once, without further reinstalling it.
Made in Japan, this device useshigh demand from both the younger generation and the more elderly. But for the sake of truth, it should be noted that it is still more common that it has acquired from people for 40. This is primarily due to its simplicity in operation and the use of “no coding” technology, which does not involve the use of any code chip installations or digital input. values. Thanks to this function, errors that could have occurred if it were necessary to enter a digital code are completely excluded. It is worth noting that now there is no need for independent verification of the test strip code, since everything in it is fully automated. I would also like to add a few words about its high accuracy of measurements, which was verified and subsequently confirmed by European medical laboratories.
The benefits of the Kontur TS meter include:
For one more reason, the “Kontur TS” model is popular: it is a blood glucose meter, the price of which is quite affordable for older people,
The only thing to remember when using this device is that lancets and test strips are disposable.
