Blood Glucose Monitor - Usage and Accuracy

A blood glucose monitor is a device used to measure blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. It typically involves pricking the finger to obtain a small blood sample for testing.
Category
Medical Device
Where to get
Available in pharmacies and medical supply stores
Applicable for
Prepared by Lee Cheng, reviewed by Jane Cox

Blood Glucose Monitor FAQ


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What is blood glucose monitoring?

Last Update: April 23, 2023. Blood glucose monitoring helps to identify patterns in the fluctuation of blood glucose (sugar) levels that occur in response to diet, exercise, medications, and pathological processes associated with blood glucose fluctuations, such as diabetes mellitus.

What is continuous glucose monitoring?

Continuous glucose monitoring means using a device to automatically estimate your blood glucose level, also called blood sugar, throughout the day and night. You can see what your blood glucose level is at any time. You can also review how your blood glucose level changes over a few hours or days and spot trends.

Why do you need a blood glucose monitor?

Seeing your blood glucose levels in real time can help you make more informed decisions about the food and beverages you consume, the physical activity you do, and the medicines you take. Keeping your blood glucose level in your target range can help prevent other health problems caused by diabetes. How does a continuous glucose monitor work?

What are test strips & blood glucose monitors?

Test strips and blood glucose monitors are the traditional way of checking your blood sugar levels. You use test strips to give you an on-the-spot reading of your blood sugar and help you manage your range. Depending on how you treat your diabetes then you might need to use a monitor and test strips to manage your diabetes.

How to monitor blood glucose?

Glucose monitoring can be done in two ways, blood glucose monitoring (BGM) and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Blood glucose monitoring— BGM requires fingersticks to get small samples of blood. The glucose level in the blood sample is measured with a glucose meter. The detailed steps for checking blood glucose through BGM are described below.

Why is blood glucose monitoring important?

Blood glucose monitoring is an essential tool for managing diabetes. It helps identify how your blood sugar levels respond to factors such as diet, exercise, and medications so you can change your diabetes management plan as needed. Checking your blood sugar level is one of the best ways to understand your diabetes.

How do I check my blood glucose levels?

You can check your sugar (glucose) levels at any time with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) or flash monitor. It lets you see patterns in your levels and check if your glucose is too high or low. It can help you control your blood glucose levels, as you'll have more information and can take action quickly.

Blood Glucose Monitor References

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