Diabetes Test Strips: What You Need To Know

People with diabetes need to constantly check their glucose levels to ensure blood sugar levels are in the healthy range with diabetes test strips. Blindness and kidney disease can occur when sugar levels are not managed properly. Testing your blood sugar levels also helps you understand which activities and food increase your blood sugar levels, and which ones lower them.

DiabetesTest Strips

You can measure your blood sugar at home by using your glucose meter. Known as a glucometer, as well as some test strips. The first glucometer was invented in 1962, however, was not until the 80s that glucose test strips were developed for at-home blood testing. How exactly do these strips determine the levels of blood glucose?

The test strips are made up of several different layers, the first being a sponge to soak up the blood. The second layer serves as a filter that will channel your blood to the reaction layer. The third layer has three components:

• An enzyme that reacts with the glucose in the blood
• A chemical that speeds electrons through the circuit for an accurate reading
• A solution of chemicals to preserve the enzyme and mediator chemicals

Lastly, the bottom layer has your circuit, usually coated in palladium and gold, which transfers the reaction electrons to your glucose meter. If you ever wonder why these strips are expensive, each layer adds on extra cost. Storing your diabetic test strips properly will help with accurate test results when checking blood sugar levels.

Purchasing Diabetes Test Strips

Storing your diabetic test strips properly will help with accurate test results when checking blood sugar levels. Each diabetes test strip box includes an instruction manual on how to properly store your test strips. Some choose to purchase second-hand test strips to save a little money, however, these can be expired or contaminated with minute traces of blood. If you can, always use brand-new test strips to ensure accurate results.

Any inaccuracies could put you at a serious health risk. When you are testing your blood sugar levels, make sure that you have a clean site from which you will draw blood, and that there is an adequate amount of sample on the strip before inserting it into the glucose meter. Make sure that your glucose meter is clean before using it, and that your test strips have not expired or been tampered with. 

Furthermore, ensure that the batteries on the glucose meter are working. If you are concerned with the accuracy of your glucose meter and strips finding out the accuracy is simple. Glucose meters usually come with a control solution or a test solution. To find out if your glucometer is accurate, squeeze a drop of the test solution onto a strip, insert the strip into the glucose meter like you would when you are actually testing your blood glucose levels, and wait for the results. The numbers on the results should match the numbers on the bottle of test solution.

Do this test every time you are using a new box of test strips. And always remember to dispose of the lancet and test strip properly every after you test.

Sell Your Unused Diabetic Supplies

If you have unused and not expired diabetic supplies that you are no longer in need of, turn these supplies into cash. Test Strip Buyers buys back unused diabetic supplies from One Touch – Ultra Blue to Accu-Chek – Aviva Plus. Don’t let these products go to waste, get a free quote today.