Glucometer Technology

Many diabetics have a battery-operated glucometer or glucose meter to test their blood sugar levels. Today's glucometers are portable, computerized and have a digital readout. Because of continued advances in technology, readings are "accurate and precise," according to the American Diabetes Association. Today's meters also read the results in seconds, giving the diabetic immediate feedback.

Identification

• Hand-held devices are the most commonly used devices. A small screen displays the blood sugar results within seconds, allowing the diabetic to monitor elevated blood sugar levels and drops in blood sugar. Hand-held devices come with a lancet for puncturing the skin and test strips for drawing in the sample of blood. Wristwatch devices detect blood sugar levels through the skin, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Features

• The new glucometers store information allowing the diabetic to review past results and averages with the physician. Some have comments or flags the diabetic may attach to the readings, as well as an interface cable that attaches to the USB port on a computer. This allows the diabetic or the physician to download the collected data. Glucose readings may include meal flags, such as "blood sugar taken before or after a meal," and comments such as "too much food or strenuous exercise."

Hand-Held Devices

• Hand-held devices include lancets or needles, which have depth indicators that the diabetic may adjust for shallow or deep punctures. This means less pain for the diabetic. Hand-held devices have test strips that draw the blood into the monitor, so no blood touches the device. Only a drop of blood is needed for a reading, which is automatically stored in the meter's memory. The monitors may be set up for different languages, different date formats and different time formats.

Wristwatch Devices

• Wristwatch devices detect the blood sugar level through fluids under the skin. A pad is placed on the skin and the blood sugar or blood glucose is measured with an electric current. If the blood sugar levels are too high or too low, an alarm sounds. Readings may be adjusted to as frequently as every 10 minutes. Diabetics replace the skin pad every 12 hours and may wear the wristwatch during the night.

Warnings

• Test strips for hand-held monitors have expiration dates. If the diabetic uses expired test strips, readings will not be correct. The wristwatch monitor may cause skin irritation for some users and is currently not available in the United States. The hand-held monitor and the wristwatch monitor are not intended to take the place of laboratory tests. They are monitors designed to help the diabetic monitor sugar levels for immediate remediation and to analyze the diabetic's lifestyle, such as amount of food ingested, level of exercise, and the effects of illness on blood sugar levels.