Diabetes is a condition that means the body cannot produce insulin, or when it cannot produce enough insulin to be effective. Insulin is a hormone produced by an organ in the body called the pancreas, its role is to regulate the amount of sugar present in the bloodstream. People suffering from diabetes have too much sugar in their blood, which can lead to serious side effects if untreated.
For people living with diabetes, it is absolutely crucial that they are able to monitor and control their blood glucose levels. Measuring blood glucose is an integral part of living with diabetes and is something all patients must learn how to do and do so regularly. Let’s take a look at some of ways in which we can measure blood glucose.
Finger Prick Method
The traditional way of measuring blood glucose is through what’s known as the finger prick method. A small needle called a lancet is used to prick the end of the finger and draw blood. This blood is then wiped onto special test strip, which is then inserted into a meter. The meter analyses the blood on the test strip and delivers a blood glucose level reading, usually in a matter of seconds.
Some more sophisticated meters can give you an overview of your readings over time, allowing you to make long-term assessments of your blood glucose levels.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems
A more advanced way of measuring blood glucose has become more popular in recent years. Continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMS) offer a range of advantages over the traditional finger prick method.
CGMS work by inserting a miniscule sensor under the skin. This sensor stays in place permanently, and constantly monitors the sugar present in your bloodstream by measuring the fluid found between your body’s cells. The information collected by the sensor is transmitted remotely to a monitor, which people will often have in their bag or attached to their belt. Some CGMS can even send the information to a dedicated mobile app for greater ease and accessibility.
If your blood glucose is deemed to be too high or too low, the monitor will sound an alarm to alert to the change in blood sugar, allowing you to take immediate action. This can give you an instant warning about your blood sugar and means you don’t have to remember to regularly check it yourself through something like a finger prick test.
Many CGMS can offer detailed analysis and reports on your blood sugar. Noting long term changes over a period of time. You can input things like meals or exercise sessions into your CGMS to account for spikes or dips in blood sugar.
Conclusion
The process of measuring blood sugar has come a long way, thanks to developments in research and technology. Now, people living with diabetes can make use of sophisticated methods such as CGMS to measure and monitor their blood glucose, which have worked to make living with diabetes that little bit easier.
