Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the blood glucose level rises beyond acceptable levels. If left untreated it can lead to many complications. Therefore diabetes requires daily monitoring and medications to help the person lead a normal life. Since this is a lifelong infliction the diabetic person is taught to care for himself on a daily basis. For successfully managing diabetes a diabetic person require variety of Diabetes Supplies for monitoring blood glucose levels along with the usual medicines.
Medically prescribed Diabetes Supplies
- Blood Glucose Meter: Also called glucometer this devise helps in determining blood glucose levels. This device is an electronic meter that reads and calculates the glucose level in a drop of blood that is placed on a testing strip. This device has an accuracy rage of +/- 10 to 15 percent since many external factors influence the results. These factors include temperature, humidity, age of the testing strips etc. Therefore the product is undergoing continuous improvement so as to reduce the error percentage.
- Blood Glucose Test Strips: These strips are designed in such a way that they can be used in a glucometer for blood glucose level monitoring. Each strip consists of some chemicals that react with the blood glucose which is measured by the glucometer. Each strip can be used only once. Ensure that the strips have not expired and are not counterfeit so as to get the best result.
- Lancets: Is a needle used by the diabetic patients to prick the skin for taking out a drop of blood for testing. A lancet cannot be reused due to risk of infection.
- Disposable Needles and Syringes: Diabetes people taking insulin injections instead or oral medicines require these on a daily basis depending on their dosage.
- Insulin Pens: This is an alternative injection system to needles and syringes. It looks like a pen equipped with a small insulin cartridge. There are two types of insulin pens – disposable and reusable pens. Disposable insulin pens have to be thrown away once the cartridge is empty. In reusable pens the cartridge can be replaced. These insulin pens are better than the traditional insulin delivery system of needles and syringes because they can deliver accurate doses with less pain.
- Insulin Pumps: These are a replacement to daily insulin administrations via insulin injections and insulin pens. In this a small pump is attached to a skin patch that provides continuous infusion of insulin.
- Insulin Inhalers: This is a new breakthrough in insulin administration devices. The insulin inhalers spray insulin into the mouth which forms a coating on the membranes of the mouth and throat. From there it diffuse into the bloodstream.
- Diabetic Control Solutions: This is necessary to ensure that the glucometer and blood glucose test strips are functioning properly. The control solution is used instead of blood on the test strip and fed into the monitor. Diabetes Supplies guidelines with the control solution help to monitor the results and measure the accuracy of the devices used. This test is especially helpful when the glucometer is new, or the quality of the testing strip is doubtful. A person who is new to self monitoring of blood glucose can use the control solution for practicing.
- Alcohol Wipes: These wipes are used to sterilize the skin area to be pricked for taking the blood drop for glucose level monitoring. Use a fresh wipe every time.
Regular monitoring is the best way to keep blood glucose levels in check. Diabetes Supplies listed above help in regular monitoring thus helping the diabetic person lead a normal life.
