Detailed in this article are 5 different methods that can be used to test your blood sugar levels. Though they differ in the way they do it, these diabetes testing methods perform one and the same thing. The best one for you is dependent on personal preference rather than anything else.
1. Standard self testing. This is the most commonly used method. You have to use a specially designed needle to prick your finger. You will then need to squeeze the finger in order to obtain a drop of blood which you will then place on a test strip. This test strip will then be placed into a meter which will in turn determine 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: your upper arms, your forearms, the base of your thumb, and your thighs. Testing blood taken from the finger is preferred by many though, despite of these additional options. This is simply because the blood sugar levels in your finger tips, show changes way quicker than any other part of the body.
3. Blood testing by laser. In the late 90s, the Food And Drug (FDA) administration approved a meter laser device capable of extracting blood through a precise laser beam on a finger. This device was in response to the numerous complaints of discomfort and pain caused by the regular pricking of the finger. 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. Over the course of 72 hours, at which time the tube needs to be replaced, the device collects samples from you and measures the blood sugar levels in them. It's an underused system but should be considered by those who forget or don't always have time to take blood samples themselves.
5. The 'Gluco Watch'. 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.
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