DIABETIC TESTING SUPPLY

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects over 150 million people in the world today. The percentage of people suffering from diabetes is increasing rapidly, to the point where many medical authorities are referring to it as an epidemic.

Diabetes prevents your body from turning your food into energy. Instead glucose stays in your bloodstream, and left untreated can result in a range of complications. If you have recently been diagnosed as diabetic, don't worry. With proper treatment and care, you will lead a normal and happy life. You may need to make a few changes in your lifestyle. Now is the time to kick you into action. You cannot leave this up to your doctor alone. It needs you to take responsibility for your own treatment, and that starts with understanding what you are dealing with.

There are three types of Diabetes:

1- Type 1 Diabetes
2- Type 2 Diabetes
3- Gestational Diabetes

Diabetes Testing

Regular diabetic testing is essential for diabetes. Depending in the severity of the diabetes, a diabetic may be instructed to test their blood sugar levels as often as every two hours. The long-term effects of high blood glucose cause most of the medical complications associated with diabetes, and low blood glucose must control as well. Diabetic testing equipment is available from most medical supply stores and pharmacies.

There are many options available in diabetic testing equipment. The oldest technique still in use involves blood glucose testing strips that are compared against a color chart like ph testing paper. There are also many glucose monitors available that will electronically read glucose levels off their own type of testing strips. All of these diabetic testing techniques require collecting blood for the test, most often by pricking the fingertip with a special lancet, and squeezing a drop of blood out of the finger. The finger is then pressed against the diabetic testing strip, allowing measurement of blood glucose either with an electronic blood glucose meter or testing strip color chart.
Many electronic diabetic testing glucose monitors are available with speech adapters, allowing diabetics with vision problems to hear their blood glucose test results. Another (recently FDA approved) glucose monitor reads blood glucose levels through the skin every 20 minutes, and only needs to be calibrated twice a day with a finger prick blood sample. For diabetics who are unable to obtain a large enough blood sample with a regular finger lancet, special lancet with integrated pump devices can be used to collect blood samples from other locations.
There is a lot of current research into 'non-invasive' diabetic testing equipment, but no home blood glucose testing techniques available today has entirely eliminated the need for a lancet.

Diabetic Testing Supplies

There are different kinds of equipments available from most medical supply stores and pharmacies.
Those are:

1- Accu-Chek

It comes as a surprise to many, but eye health is of particular concern to individuals who have diabetes. Fluctuations in blood glucose levels can affect your eyesight, as well as speed up the process of cataract development. Diabetics are also more prone to develop glaucoma. For these reasons, it's imperative that you monitor your blood glucose levels with your Accu-Chek meter or other testing device. You should also have regular eye examinations, and report any changes in your vision to your doctor. Keeping your blood glucose level stabilized is the primary way to lower your risk of eye disease.

2- Advance Blood Glucose Intuition Test Strip

When you are first diagnosed with diabetes, you may check your sugar levels quite often. Your fingertips will be sore, but they will eventually toughen up. Your doctor may ask you to check your sugar when you wake, before meals, two hours after meals, and before bed. Your doctor may even request that you set your alarm at night and do a middle of the night test. This can be quite tedious, however it may be necessary. For this job Test Strip are available from most medical supply stores and pharmacies. This help us to check the sugar levels in our blood.

3- Ascensia Elite

There are numerous long-term complications, which can arise from diabetes. American Diabetic Supply hopes every individual with diabetes stays vigilant in keeping his or her blood glucose levels regulated. The new diabetic supplies on the market, such as the Ascensia Elite, make it easier than ever before to monitor sugar levels. The Ascencia Elite offers multiple site testing and requires only a small drop of blood. Plus, it can store up to 120 tests and allows you to upload the information to your PC for easy tracking. These advances in monitoring are helping many people keep blood sugar levels in normal ranges, which is the key to lowering the chances of diabetic complications.

4- BD Syringe

American Diabetic Supply carries BD Syringes in various sizes to serve your individual needs. The higher the number, the thinner the needle on your syringe will be. You should discuss with your doctor which needle he or she thinks would work best for you.

5- Blood Glucose Meters

At American Diabetic Supply carries various blood glucose meters. Meters come with different options such as large display panels, 14 and 30 day averages of blood glucose levels, no coding meters, meters which store testing strips, and more. No matter what your lifestyle is, there's likely to be a meter that's right for you.

6- Blood Sugar Monitor

Blood glucose monitors are important and necessary tools for diabetics and physicians. Blood glucose monitoring is a simple way to discover how the different foods you eat affect your body. They also go far in letting you know if your body is receiving the proper amount of insulin and exercise, so you can adapt accordingly.

7- Diabetes Meter

There are various Diabetic Meters available. All meters are not the same. While all do test blood glucose levels, many have added features. Every diabetic suffers from a lack of insulin production, or his or her body does not use the insulin it produces productively. This causes sugar to build up in the bloodstream, causing high blood glucose levels. Having a high concentration of sugar in your bloodstream is not healthy. We all are probably familiar with how sticky and thick sugar can be. You do not want this buildup in your veins.

Glucose meters are vital in helping diabetics monitor their sugar concentration. Meters alert diabetics if they have too much sugar in their bloodstream, or if they do not have enough. Either scenario can be dangerous. Many diabetics have to test their blood multiple times every day. Others may be able to only check twice a day.

8- Diabetes Test Strip

Diabetes falls into two main categories, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 usually occurs during childhood or adolescence. The more common form of diabetes, type 2, usually occurs in individuals who are middle aged. The number of children and adolescents being diagnosed with type-2 diabetes is on the rise, though. Regardless of which type of diabetes you may have, using your test strips to monitor your blood glucose levels is very important.

9- Diabetic Lancets

When you are choosing your blood glucose monitor, you might only consider the level of comfort. When you see comfort levels discussed on blood glucose monitoring devices, it is referring to the lancet, which comes with the glucose meters. The "ouch factor" comes from the lancet itself--the device that pricks your skin, enabling your monitor and testing strips to read your blood glucose levels.

10- Diabetic Syringes

When your doctor prescribes insulin for you, it is very important you use the proper syringe. Your doctor will write you a prescription listing the type of syringe he or she wants you to use. You should always verify you have received the proper syringe.

The insulin dosage you are prescribed will determine which syringe you should use. Insulin is measured in units per milliliter, or U-100. The syringe you use should match the concentration of insulin your doctor has prescribed for you. If you use the incorrect syringe, it can be very dangerous to you. In other words, it's worth double-checking.
Diabetic Syringes Come in Various Gauges. You will soon become familiar with the different gauges of syringes. Gauges are simply the measurement of the diameter and the unit measurement of a syringe. The higher the gauge, the smaller the needle. You can try various gauges to see which one is most comfortable for you.

11- Humulin

Humulin Insulin is different from insulin that is derived from animal sources. Humulin is found to be structurally identical to the insulin, which is produced in the human body's pancreas. If your doctor is switching you from animal-source insulin to Humulin, chances are your dosage will be changed as well.

12- Insulin

There are various kinds of insulin. Your doctor will work with you in developing an insulin regime that works for you, your health and your lifestyle. You should never make changes in your dosage without first consulting with your doctor. If you find you are having bouts of hyperglycemia, this may warrant an insulin change. There are three types of insulin supply as Rapid, Short, Intermediate and Long-Acting Insulin.

Rapid-acting insulin has an onset of less than 15 minutes. This insulin works well for those who find themselves having bouts of high blood glucose. An injection of this insulin will safely lower your blood sugar. You should recheck your blood sugar to ensure you are within a normal range about 30 minutes after the injection.

Short-acting insulin starts to work within 30 minutes to two hours. This insulin is usually injected prior to meals and helps to keep blood glucose levels stabilized between meals. Intermediate-acting insulin has an onset of two to four hours. Intermediate insulin is usually injected twice a day, before breakfast and in the evening before a meal or at bedtime. Your doctor may only have you take intermediate insulin once a day, so be certain what your dosage is and when you need to take it.

Long-acting insulin begins to work within four to six hours. This injection is usually administered before breakfast or before an evening meal. Alternatively, half the dosage may be given at each meal. American Diabetic Supply encourages you to become familiar with the type of insulin you are prescribed and to learn about its onset time and peak times. This will aid you in staying off bouts of low or high blood sugar while staying healthy and active.

13- Novolin

For your health, it's important to take proper measures to keep your Novolin (human insulin) fresh. It is recommended you keep your vial of Novolin stored in the original box. This will protect it from germs, dirt, and light. It is best if you can store your Novolin in the refrigerator; however, if that is not an option, you should try to keep your insulin from being exposed to temperatures above 85° F.
You can inject your Novolin into thighs, upper arms, abdomen or buttocks. You should always rotate the injection site. It is acceptable to always inject into your abdomen, but you should avoid repeating an injection into a previously injected site. It is recommended that you rotate sites and inject at least two inches away from the previous site.

After you have drawn up your dosage of Novolin, you should pinch up a clean and dry area to the injection site and hold it firmly. You should push the needle quickly into this area. Once the needle has been inserted, you can let go of your grasp on the injection site. You should now proceed to push in the plunger on your syringe. You should try to avoid injecting into a muscle or vein. Also, be sure to count to five before pulling the needle out, since this allows the medication time to absorb.

Summary

Yesterday, diabetes was considered a debilitating disease. Today, with so much new technology available, so much information, and educational opportunities, diabetes is no longer the disease it used to be. Today, it is possible for people with diabetes to live a normal life. They can keep better control of their illness, eat better, and feel better.
The most important way you can take control of your illness is education. As you become more informed about your disease, it will be easier for you to prevent or lessen many diabetes related complications you're likely to encounter.

Each day brings new improvements in sugar-free food. Many sugar-free foods don't taste sugar-free. When you couple better tasting food with new glucose monitoring technology, there is no reason a person with diabetes can't lead a full and rewarding life.

Author: Anuradha Panda