As you know, with the increase in diabetic patients at more or less every house, testing of blood sugar levels at regular intervals has become indispensable to stay healthy. But, what can happen if you keep on neglecting this condition? Well, it can lead to serious cardiovascular problems or various other complications. Therefore, if your blood sugar levels are on the higher side or you have diabetes, you need to ascertain that the levels are within range.
So how can you do that without visiting a diagnostic center? Nowadays, several advancements in medical science have led to discoveries of various devices that were previously unthinkable. Similarly, a glucometer is one such device that helps you to determine your blood sugar levels while sitting back at home. They are available in different brands. So if you are planning to get one, you can research a bit beforehand and go for the best glucometer in India.
Today, in this article, we will look at the different types of glucometers available in the market. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
What Is A Glucometer?
If you are performing the test for the first time with a glucometer, it is very obvious that you won’t have many ideas about the device. So you are at the right place, as we will be discussing all those important aspects of this medical device and shed light on some of the types of glucometers.
As you know, a glucometer is a medical device that we use to monitor the blood glucose levels of our body. It provides an approximate reading of the concentration of glucose in your blood. The test can also be done by dipping the strip of glucose paper into a substance and measured it in the glucose chart. People with diabetes mellitus or hypoglycemia generally use this device for regular monitoring of their blood sugar levels.
What Are The Different Types Of Glucometers?
There are a lot of options available when it comes to glucose meters. Therefore, at times, patients get confused about which one they can select from the varied options. Let us help you out in explaining some of them in detail:
Hospital Glucometers
This type of glucometers is one of the best ones that you usually find in hospitals. Moreover, it is suitable for multi-patient use. At the same time, they also provide elaborate quality control records. They are designed so that these hospital glucose meters have excellent capabilities of transferring data into electronic medical records and laboratory computer systems for billing purposes.
Blood Testing With Glucometers Having Test Strips
This is one of the most common types of glucometers that we usually find in our homes. With this glucometer, the diabetes test strips are the key component of blood glucose testing. So even though you might feel they are an insignificant part of the device, they perform a major role in monitoring the sugar levels.
However, you can use these strips for once only. Do you know how these test strips work? Here are some of the steps:
- Place a drop of blood on the test strip; you will find that the sample starts reacting with a chemical called glucose oxidase, which produces gluconic acid from the glucose in the blood
- Since the test strip has electric terminals, they allow the meter to measure the current between the terminals
- It is the level of gluconic acid that is responsible for this current between the terminals
- Next, the meter uses an algorithm to determine your blood glucose level
Non-Invasive Meters
Do you know non-invasive glucometers help in monitoring the blood glucose levels of chronic and acute diabetic patients? Yes, they monitor the levels without drawing any blood or puncturing the skin, thereby causing no pain or trauma. Sounds great, right? So if your blood sugar levels are on the higher side, you can surely use this glucometer for measuring your sugar levels.
Point Of Care Glucometers
Point of care or POC glucometers provide you with analytical information that doctors in hospitals can use to make decisions at patient’s bedsides instead of lab tests. It is a widely used tool to determine immediate results for hospitalized patients. Moreover, it facilitates rapid treatment decisions if there are any sort of fluctuations in glycemia.
However, if you want accurate POC glucose testing results, then you need to pay attention to some of these important factors:Â
- Ensure that the test sites are adequately prepared to avoid preanalytical errors
- It is essential for the proper identification of tested patients
- Proper documentation to prevent any post-analytical errors
Continuous Glucose Monitors
The name itself suggests that this device continuously monitors the blood glucose level of patients suffering from Type I or Type II diabetes. But do you know about the mechanism of this device? A small electrode is present under the skin and held in place by an adhesive; this provides the reading in the device. Moreover, there is also a transmitter present that sends the data to a separate receiver.
So why not make use of an advanced glucometer like CGM for continuous monitoring of your glucose levels?
Summing It Up
So if you are confuse as to which is the perfect glucometer for you or what differentiates them from each other, you can read through this blog to get a brief idea. Moreover, there are many reputed brands available that provide you with the best glucometer in India.
