Cost
Your medicare or other health insurance should cover monitor and strips cost. Some states require this coverage (California). Your doctor needs to approve and write a prescription. There may be a small co-pay requirement. Cost of supplies may or may not be covered. Check your coverage before buying supplies, some health plans specify one brand. Meters and supplies costs vary, so check pharmacies before making a final decision. Check the rebates or special purchase offers. Mail order distributors offer door to door delivery and will bill medicare or your insurance.

Use
Meters vary in ease of use: less blood required, fast response, computer linking, and or memory storage. Alternative site testing on the arm or leg as well as the finger may be available on some meters. The alternative to the finger tip may or may not be an advantage to you.

The finger tip testing has been found best in checking for a hypoglycemia result, if you have hypoglycemia unawares or when checking 1 to 2 hours after eating. You may want to do your own quality assurance testing.

Timing
Monitoring helps you to know where you are for adjusting your eating (number of carbohydrates), exercise, and medications. You will discover that exercise variation and duration does influence your blood sugar. Also it will help you to know how sensitive you are to certain food types and amounts.

In general, how often should you test? It depends, check with your doctor. Unless told different, 1 or 2 times a day with a slightly varying clock time is best. If you are sick, increase the frequency of testing to every 3 to 4 hours.

A week before your doctor appointment you may test 4 times a day, again varying the time. A good rule is test before breakfast, before or after lunch or dinner, before bedtime or even in the middle of the night.

Record keeping

Keep a written log book even if your monitor has a memory or computer link. Take it with you on doctor appointments. Paper trails are important. Utilize the section that is set aside for comments on your exercising, eating changes, sickness, stress periods, etc.

Accuracy
Meters are generally accurate when the proper technique is used and it is set to the strip code. Meter replacement should be considered after about a 5 year usage. Technology is always changing. Check for accuracy when ever you suspect a problem, if the machine is dropped , if the reading is not consistant with the way you are feeling and as often as the manufacture advises. A control solution is provided for accuracy checking. Usually it is done once a month.

Remember to check whether your meter is displaying numbers for whole blood or plasma reference. When you test blood from your finger it is capillary whole blood. Most meters convert that whole blood reading to a plasma referenced value, which is the same as a lab result when blood is drawn from a vein in the arm. The plasma value will be about 10 to 15 points higher than a whole blood reading.

Inaccurate readings can occur if strips are left open, outdated or if your machine is not calibrated to the right strip code. Meters or strips that are stored in extreme moisture, heat, or sunlight may have problems. Always clean your equipment as directed by the manufacturer for best results.

Equipment problems

Manufacturers have a 24 hour toll free number for help and information on their meters. Check your instruction maual for assistance and number. Malfunctions should be brought to the attention of the manufacturer.

Links to Manufacturers

Roche Diagnostics
Abbott Diabetes Care
Bayer
Life Scan
Home Diagnostics