There’s a lot to tote around when you’re a diabetic. Good thing I have a big purse, because here’s what I need to carry:
- Glucometer
- Lancing device
- Spare lancets for lancing device
- Test strips
- Testing solution
- Alcohol wipes
- Log book
- Pen to record my results in my log book
- Insulin pen
- Spare needles for insulin pen
A glucometer is the device I use to check my blood sugar. I use a True Metrix glucometer. I like that I can note if my blood sugar check is fasting, after a meal, or after exercise.
A lancing device is the device I use to draw blood. I like the Accu-Chek FastClix because the sharps are stored in a little barrel-style cartridge, which means I don’t have to take extra precautions when I’m throwing the sharps away.
The test strips are inserted into the glucometer before I provide a blood sample. If the strip is bad, or if I accidentally dip the strip in my blood sample before the glucometer is ready, I’ve wasted a test strip. I try not to waste them. A glucometer is fairly cheap, much like how an inkjet printer is cheap, but you can spend hundreds of dollars a year on test strips or inkjet cartridges.
Testing solution is what I use to make sure my glucometer is still giving me accurate readings. If the glucometer is reading out of true, it’s time for a new battery or maybe a new glucometer.
Alcohol wipes are for when I need to check my blood but I’m not anywhere I can wash my hands. If I can’t clean my hands, I run the risk of providing my glucometer with a contaminated sample, like the patient in a story told by my diabetes educator, who ate her afternoon snack, then checked her blood sugar, only her sample was mixed with a chocolate smear. Boom! High blood sugar result.
A log book and pen are crucial, because recording my results helps me manage my diabetes. I can track any unusual ups and downs, and share them with my doctor on my regular visits.
The insulin pen is for those times when my blood sugar is too high (over 120) and I need to self-inject. Luckily I don’t need to do that very often these days.
I could never carry all this around loose in my purse, but fortunately I don’t have to. What’s my secret? I’ll share that on Friday’s post.
Rachel
I'm a writer, a knitter/spinner/weaver, a young stroke survivor, and a type 2 diabetic.
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