Best Diabetes Checking Machines (Glucometers)

These are the various glucometer machines which are easy to use, less painful than others and highly accurate. You can choose the one your doctor recommends or check the features to see which machine aligns with your priorities and then make a choice.

Accu-Chek Active Glucometer

Accu-Check is an easy to use Diabetes machine and is less painful than other similar machines. To check your blood sugar level, you simply need to prick a finger and take a tiny droplet of blood on the provided strip. The strip is then inserted into the machine and the time taken to show the result is nearly 5 seconds. The accurate result is displayed on the digital screen. It also has a customized test reminder feature which is quite useful.

One Touch Simple Glucometer

One-touch simple glucometer is a complete Diabetes testing kit as it comes with a good number of strips as well as lancets along with the machine. It doesn’t require coding and the result displays instantly within a second on screen. An alarm rings when you have low, high, or extremely high blood pressure. The machine is blazingly fast and probably the fastest blood glucose meter available in the market.

DrMorepenGluco One BG 02 Glucometer

DrMorepenGluco One is an amazing glucometer and no coding is required to check your blood sugar level. It is small in size with a big display and has a capacity of 450 recordings along with date and time. Only 0.7 microliter blood is required and within 7 seconds, the results are displayed. The kit contains 25 strips and 10 lancets which are enough for a few days. DrMorepen glucometer is available quite easily at online shopping sites.

Omron HGM 112 Glucometer

This glucometer from Omron is quite light in weight and is ideal for a Diabetes test at home. Only 0.1 microliter blood is required and the result appears in less than 5 seconds. It helps you in monitoring your sugar level with great ease. The Diabetes blood test machine indicates when the strip is damaged, reused or expired when inserted in the glucometer. It also has a facility of pre-meal and post-meal marking. The kit comes with 10 strips and 10 lancets.

OneTouch Ultra

OneTouch is among the finest blood sugar monitoring devices available which require a small sample and is quite accurate as well. There are 50 strips included in the packet which is more than enough for a long period of time. Most doctors recommend using OneTouch’s Diabetes blood test machine as it is quite reliable and trustworthy.

Truworth G 30 Glucometer

Truworth G 30 Glucometer is less painful and pretty quick. Only 0.5 microliters of blood is required and in less than 5 seconds, you will get to know whether the blood sugar level has increased or decreased. It also has pre and post meal facility. Around 450 test memories are saved with date and time for you to check at a later stage. The results are easily transmitted to computers or smartphones which you can show to your doctor during your Diabetes check up.

Dr. Gene Accusure Glucose Monitor

If you are looking for an affordable solution with around 25 strips and 10 lancets, the Dr. Gene Accusure Glucose Monitor is the perfect machine. It is widely trusted for being long lasting and for its accuracy.  The Diabetes checking machine is equipped with a strip ejection feature which makes sure that it prevents all kinds of blood contaminations.

Arkray Glucocard 01-Mini Glucometer

Arkray is a reputed brand among the various blood sugar testing machine brands available in the market. The blood sample required for measuring in the machine is extremely low at around 0.3 micro-liters. This is far less than the sample required by other machines available in the market. You can get your results in just 5 seconds by taking this Diabetes test at home.

Important Diabetes Tests

Here are various blood tests which can be conducted for the diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes but one can also do a Diabetes test at home. You can use a Diabetes checking machine to check your blood sugar level and know what the results are, almost instantly. If you want to know your insulin levels, you can simply carry out an insulin test for Diabetes. Check them out –

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

The Oral glucose tolerance test is a diabetic test which is majorly performed on women during pregnancy. It is accurate in letting us know if a pregnant woman is suffering from Gestational Diabetes. In this test, the blood is normally taken for test once to know the average blood sugar level and later, you will be given a syrupy glucose solution. After this, your blood is taken every 30 to 60 minutes for the next 3 hours to see how your blood is handling the surge in sugar. The results for this Diabetes blood test can vary depending upon the grams of glucose in the solution.

Fasting Blood Sugar Test

When we talk about test for patients with Type 2 Diabetes, the most common Diabetes test name that crops up is the Fasting Blood Sugar test. This medical test is extremely easy to perform and thus, is highly preferred by all. One needs to fast overnight in order to take this test in the morning. Usually, a normal blood sugar level from this test ranges from 70-99 mg/dl or less than 5.5 mmol/L. Many also use a Diabetes machine to conduct this test.

Two Hour Postprandial Test

The blood sugar level is also reflected accurately after a meal and the two hour postprandial test does that. You need to have a normal meal and then wait for two hours to get this test done. If your blood sugar level is 70-145 mg/dl or less than 7.9 mmol/L then this is the normal range, and you can be worry free. If the test indicates otherwise, you need to immediately go to a doctor for getting a Diabetes check up.

Random Blood Sugar Test

The random blood sugar test just like its name says is done randomly to measure the blood sugar level irrespective of the time as well as the meals had prior to the test. The normal range for the random blood sugar test spans from 70-125 mg/dl or less than 7.0 mmol/L. If it is anything higher than that, you are diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.

Hemoglobin A1C Test

This is the only Diabetes test which measures the amount of sugar which is stuck in your red blood cells. These cells have a span of just 3 months but it can indicate your level of blood sugar in the recent months. It is a test which can also be conducted for diabetics to see how their recent blood sugar level is performing. If the results for this test are higher, you can make certain lifestyle changes to bring it back to normal. This test cannot be performed through a Diabetes machine.

What is Blood Sugar Level?

We all have a certain amount of sugar in our bodies and the quantity of blood sugar or glucose in blood is known as the blood sugar level. If these levels rise, a person may suffer from Diabetes. There are various tests to measure these levels and are used for diagnosis of Diabetes. Some tests are conducted after eating whereas some of them are conducted before eating and the blood sugar level for both of them differs.

National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommended target blood glucose level ranges

**The non-diabetic figures are provided for information but are not part of National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines.

Blood Sugar Level of Diabetic Patients

After a certain limit, the level of blood sugar is known as the diabetic blood sugar level which would mean that you are suffering from Diabetes. The blood glucose level differs as per age as well as gender along with other conditions such as pregnancy. Let’s see how the range differs for each type of person based on the Diabetes blood sugar levels chart.

Kids

There are many tests to determine the blood sugar levels in kids. The most common test that doctors recommend is the ‘Fasting Blood Sugar Test’. If your child has a 100 mg/dl of blood sugar level in a ‘Fasting Blood Test’ then he or she is perfectly fine and is in the normal range. But if it exceeds from that level and is below 125 mg/dl, your child is suffering from Prediabetes.

Finally, if your child has a blood sugar level of more than 126 mg/dl, he or she is suffering from Diabetes. These levels can be different for various tests and you must refer to your doctor to know whether your child is suffering from Diabetes.

Adults

Adults have a slightly higher range of normal blood sugar level as per the blood glucose chart. The normal range of blood sugar as per the ‘Fasting Blood Sugar Test’ is below 108 mg/dl. Anything which is significantly lower than this level is considered to be a low blood sugar range.

The range between 108 mg/dl to 125 mg/dl is said to be a state of Prediabetes which is an onset for the Type 2 Diabetes. The high blood sugar range for adults is above 126 mg/dl which is termed as Diabetes. You must constantly keep your blood sugar level in check by frequently referring to the blood sugar level chart.

Pregnancy

During pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through a lot of vital changes and the blood sugar level is impacted to a certain level. However, the normal blood sugar range for pregnant women without Diabetes is from 69 mg/dl to 75 mg/dl on a ‘Fasting Blood Sugar Test’.

For women who are suffering from Gestational Diabetes, the blood sugar level is higher than 95 mg/dl. Multiple blood tests are required during the tenure of pregnancy to diagnose Gestational Diabetes.

Blood Sugar Level

The major differentiator through which we classify both the diseases is the blood sugar level. Usually, the diabetic blood sugar level is above 126 mg/dl when tested through a Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) test. If it is higher, a person is said to have Type 2 Diabetes and necessary measures are taken. However, if the blood sugar level is lower than 126 mg/dl but more than 100 mg/dl, a person is diagnosed with Prediabetes. This is the prime differentiating factor through which we can label a person’s condition as Prediabetes or Type 2 Diabetes.

Symptoms

Usually, a sugar disease like Diabetes doesn’t depict any kind of symptoms but people suffering from Type 2 Diabetes often experience increased thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision and fatigue along with a few other symptoms. Whereas people suffering from Prediabetes often show no symptoms and it can only be diagnosed through a blood test for measuring blood sugar level.

It is recommended to go through diabetes check up for screening your blood sugar level. The mild symptoms of Type 2 diabetes can be seen in Prediabetes but most of the times there are no symptoms. This is how one can differentiate Prediabetes from Type 2 Diabetes based on the symptoms they show.

Treatment

Treatment for both the conditions differs to a certain extent. Although some treatment methods such as a change in lifestyle, exercising as well as diet plan are necessary for both, medication can differ. Insulin injections can be prescribed for Type 2 Diabetes but it is not needed for people with Prediabetes. Since the blood sugar level is lower in Prediabetes than in Type 2 Diabetes, the treatment mode and techniques relatively differ for both of them. But as the nature of diagnosis is similar in both, some of the treatment prescribed by the doctor can be similar in some cases.

Diagnosis of Prediabetes

One of the reasons why Prediabetes has become so prevalent is because usually there are no signs and symptoms of the disease. However, you might feel some common high blood sugar level symptoms such as increased thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, etc. The only way you can know you have Prediabetes is to get screened for it. If you are diagnosed with Prediabetes, the risk factors for ‘Type 2 Diabetes’ significantly rise but is not completely inevitable.

Preventing Conversion of Prediabetes to Type 2 Diabetes

Prediabetes is an onset of the infamous sugar disease but you can avoid it by taking adequate measures. Some people start treating Prediabetes as a Type of Diabetes and this is the biggest myth many live with. There are various Prediabetes causes and if you want to be healthy, you must try and avoid them to prevent Prediabetes itself. But once you are diagnosed with Prediabetes, you can change your lifestyle to make it more active and follow a proper meal plan by eating all the items listed in the diet chart.

Medication of Prediabetes

Since the blood sugar level is on a rise while you are diagnosed with Prediabetes, your doctor might recommend some medicine to cure it. ‘Glucophage’ is a medicine that you will most probably be prescribed for Prediabetes. Moreover, your physician may also advise you to take ‘Metformin’ which reduces the amount of glucose that the liver produces. The treatment of Prediabetes is possible and with consultation from a good doctor, you can avail the necessary medicines.

Natural Cure and Home Remedies for Prediabetes

• As per the facts, if you exercise for just 150 minutes per week you can drastically reduce the chance of getting Type 2 Diabetes.
• Follow a healthy diet plan from a proper diabetes food list and you can get back to your normal blood sugar level.
• Changing your lifestyle is the best remedy for Prediabetes.
• If you are overweight, you might also focus on reducing your weight so that your sugar level automatically reduces.
• Sleep adequately and take good care of your health to cure Prediabetes.

What is Prediabetes?

Prediabetes is a condition in which a person’s blood sugar level is higher than normal but not as high enough to be termed as Type 2 Diabetes. The name of the disease can be misleading as a type of diabetes but its meaning is not to be misconstrued with actually having diabetes. If there is no treatment or diagnosis from a medical professional, it will turn into Type 2 diabetes within a few years. However, if treated with proper medication and lifestyle changes along with a weight loss program, a patient of Prediabetes can stop the blood sugar level from converting into Type 2 diabetes and bring it back to normal.

Prediabetes Causes

Although there are no exact causes of Prediabetes which are known but there are a few probable reasons why Prediabetes occurs in people and they are as follows:

• Family history and genetics can have a huge role in the diagnosis of Prediabetes in a person.
• Low activity rate and a sedentary lifestyle are often known to raise blood sugar level which turns to Prediabetes.
• The excessive fat percentage in a body is also a major cause of Prediabetes.

Prediabetes Symptoms

Just like various other types of diabetes, Prediabetes doesn’t have any kind of signs and symptoms in most cases. However, you might still look for Prediabetes early signs which can be similar to the list below:

• Increase in thirst and hunger.
• The subsequent increase in urination.
• Blurred vision in low light conditions or even in daylight at times.
• High levels of fatigue and tiredness.

Prediabetes Risk Factors

Since Prediabetes is an onset disease to Type 2 Diabetes, most of the risk factors associated with it stand true for Prediabetes as well. Below are a few major risk factors of this sugar disease:

• The increase in weight is a common risk factor in high blood sugar level which can lead up to various other diseases as well.
• If you fail to follow a proper Prediabetes diet plan which comprises of all the necessary nutrients, it will lead to worse consequences.
• Low level of activity is one of the biggest factors which can increase the risk of Prediabetes.
• Even haphazard sleep patterns can increase the chances of a person being diagnosed with Prediabetes.

Prediabetes Facts you Must Know

• Most people are diagnosed with Prediabetes after the age of 45.
• Intestinal bacteria are known to combat Prediabetes indirectly.
• People who stay up a late stand at a higher risk of getting Prediabetes in their life.
• People who lose 7% of body weight and do 150 minutes of exercise per week can go back from Prediabetes condition to normal blood sugar level condition.
• If we look at the definition of the disease, Prediabetes is not a type of Diabetes but just an onset of it.

Cure of Prediabetes

The cure for Prediabetes or way of lowering the blood sugar level is widely known and you can follow the various tips so that it doesn’t turn into Type 2 Diabetes. Make strong lifestyle changes which include changing your diet and activity level in a great way. Indulge in moderate exercises which are suitable for people with high blood sugar level. By proper consultation with a dietician, start a diet plan which is aimed at weight loss and contains elements that help in lowering the blood sugar level.

Recommended Diabetes Exercises for Diabetics

The doctors from all around the world also recommend the diabetic patients to do regular exercises to burn fat and sugar. But, most of them don’t know what exercises could be done easily. If you are a diabetic patient and looking for some recommended exercises then here is the list of the best Diabetes exercises for you.

Brisk Walking

Walking is one of the most underrated forms of exercises which most of us tend to ignore. If you are looking for mild exercises for diabetic patient, brisk walking can work like wonder. Even your doctor will advise you to do the same when you are suffering from Type 2 Diabetes. Although slow or moderate walking will not yield any significant results, brisk walking can be highly effective as a daily form of exercise. Brisk walk for half an hour daily until you feel a little breathlessness so that it improves your cardiovascular functioning.

Low Weight Training

Getting active without a little weight training seems quite frivolous. You can either join a gym with a personal trainer who can create a diabetic workout for you or else get dumbles and start a basic workout yourself at home. There are innumerous benefits of weight training not only for diabetics but for anyone who wants to stay fit. Include a mix of weight training in your weekly exercise regime and you will see the difference in your fitness as well as your blood sugar levels.

Yoga

Yoga exercise for Diabetes is highly effective in keeping your blood sugar level in control. It will also help you in reducing your lower body fat and make your body combat insulin resistance to a great extent. Yoga is also believed to be a great stress buster and thus it must be included in your daily activities. When the stress levels go high, your blood sugar level shoots up too. So, try yoga daily to keep your stress levels in check and eventually lower your blood sugar levels.

Swimming

Aerobic exercises work best for diabetic patients and the best exercise for Diabetes control in this regard is swimming. It is also an effective and ideal exercise for Diabetes Type 2 patients since there is no pressure on your joints when you indulge in swimming. Moreover, swimming isn’t too hard on your feet like another form of exercises such as jogging or brisk walking. If you enjoy swimming, you can do it daily or else try scheduling it for at least 2-3 times in a week.

Bicycling

Bicycling is another aerobic exercise which is aimed to improve your cardiovascular health and lower body mobility. If you don’t have access to proper bicycling infrastructure or a bicycle, you can simply use the stationary cycle at your gym to exercise. It is termed as the most effective exercise for Diabetes patients as it significantly improves the blood flow to your legs. Cycling is also said to be an ideal form of exercise for Diabetes Type 1 patients due to the various benefits it provides.

Tai Chi

Although very few are aware of this form of exercise, it has existed for centuries now. Tai Chi was originated in China and later spread across the world owing to its stress reduction techniques and the ability to improve overall fitness. It is also said to be a good Diabetes exercise because it reduces nerve damage and improves your balance, both of which are essential for every diabetic patient. Tai Chi involves slow body movements and you can practice it daily for half an hour to get the best results.

The Last Words

These are the various effective forms of exercises which people who suffer from Diabetes must practice. All of them are proven to either reduce your blood sugar levels or are great stress busters. Include them in your exercise schedule so that you combat Diabetes in the best possible way.

Diabetes History

The history of Diabetes mellitus dates back to the 16^th century B.C. where people started noticing symptoms of a mysterious disease. It was only when an Egyptian Physician named Hesy-Ra started noticing frequent urination. They also noticed that ants started getting attracted towards the urine which indicated that it had sugar content. This is when the discovery for the disease started taking its roots. At first, a Greek Physician known as Arateus also termed the disease as the melting down of flesh and limbs into urine. After some centuries, people also tasted other’s urine and if it felt sweet, the person was said to have Diabetes.

Origin of Diabetes mellitus

As the food habits of humans kept changing and sugar became an important part of our lives, Diabetes has become a common disease these days. But the origins were very scarce. The first person to have been detected with Diabetes must have lived in the 15^th century. When it was originated, people were usually told to exercise or ride on horseback which had the ability to cure excessive urination. However, the first person who took a medical treatment including an injection of insulin was Leonard Thompson on 11^th January, 1922 when he was just 14 years old.

Research on Diabetes Mellitus

It is only through sheer research that scientists and professionals can have groundbreaking discoveries. In 1889, Joseph von Mering and Oskar Minkowski did some research work on the subject and found that Diabetes was due to pancreas. Sir Edward Albert Sharpey-Schafer in the year 1910 successfully made a research and found that the disease is caused due to lack of insulin. So if you want to consider just a single name for who discovered Diabetes mellitus, it would be difficult as all of those who put in their hard work are behind the discovery but the above 3 scientists are often credited with major discoveries related to Diabetes mellitus.

Gestational Diabetes Diet in Pregnancy

Eating the right meals for Gestational Diabetes is highly important and knowing what to eat is equally important as well. Let’s see 10 of the most nutritious food for Gestational Diabetes that you must include in your diet.

Eggs

Eggs are a great source of protein and iron. You can include it in your daily breakfast as a part of the Gestational Diabetes meal plan. Eating at least 1 or 2 eggs daily can keep you healthy during your pregnancy. Eating the egg also provides you with other important nutrients to and keeps you healthy.

Bananas

Fruits must be an important part of your diet and Bananas are rich in Vitamin B6. You can have Bananas in your diabetic diet plan as it is also good for your pregnancy. The fruit is also effective in curing leg cramps during nights which can become common while you are pregnant. So try including Bananas in your meal plan for Gestational Diabetes.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is one of the most effective food items for people suffering from diabetes. It can regulate your blood sugar level and can bring it back to normal which is why it is highly recommended in every Gestational Diabetes diet menu. Moreover, it can also help you in reducing the number of insulin injections needed during the treatment.

Yogurt

Yogurt is quite rich in protein too and it is advisable that you include it in your pregnancy diabetes diet menu which you can follow daily. If you have access to Greek yogurt, you can consume that too as it has double the amount of protein than the normal regular yogurt. Yogurt is included in probably all the Gestational Diabetes diet chart.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes are rich in antioxidants as well as vitamin A, C and B6. At times you might have cravings to eat something like French fries and other similar food items, so it’s better to replace potatoes in your daily pregnancy diabetes diet by sweet potatoes and it would make a world of difference.

Beans

If you are looking for a perfect food item that is great for both, you as well as your baby, you must consume Beans frequently. There are various health benefits associated with it as it is full of fiber, protein, folate, and zinc among other healthy nutrients. It must definitely be a part of your Gestational Diabetes food list.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes can be easily included in your Gestational Diabetes meals because it is too easy to make a recipe out of it or to include it to a recipe. It is rich in antioxidants like Lycopene which helps in fighting against diseases and illnesses. They also have a good amount of Vitamin C and potassium which are important for your body.

Whole Grain Bread

We all need to eat bread but also make sure that they are made up of Whole grain. White Bread which is normally available will do more harm to your body than benefit so never include it in your Gestational Diabetes food list. Thus, if you like to consume bread, ensure that it is Whole Grain Bread.

Lean Meat

If you are more inclined towards non vegetarian food items, you can consume Lean meats as there are many Gestational Diabetes diet recipes you can make out of meat. They are a good source of iron and protein which are essential for your body.

Spinach

You must have already heard about the health benefits of Spinach in a normal diet and when you are searching for foods to eat with Gestational Diabetes, it is something you will find in every list. Spinach is full of antioxidants, minerals and vitamins so make sure that you eat them frequently for health benefits.

Early Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes mellitus

Unlike many other diseases, detecting the early symptoms of diabetes can be really difficult. They can be so silent and hideous that you might not recognize them at all. However, if you pay enough attention to the changes in your body and behaviour, you can identify the first signs of diabetes which will then help you in combating the disease in a better way. Below listed are some of the early signs which you can spot if you are suffering from diabetes:

• Increased hunger, no matter how much you eat.
• Increased thirst, which is then followed by an increase in the frequency of urination.
• Feeling tired all the time.
• Frequent changes in the mood and feeling grumpy.
• Vision starts to become blurry even though you don’t have any eye disease.
• Your wounds are taking too long to heal than the normal time required.

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes in Men

From different types of diabetes, Type 2 is very common in men and it affects around 90% to 95% of the men who are suffering from the disease. However, there are some diabetes symptoms in men which if ignored can turn harmful and lead to far off consequences. If you notice the below symptoms in your body and think that it has become a pattern, waste no time in consulting your doctor:

• An unusual increase in thirst frequently.
• The increase in hunger even after just eating a meal.
• Dry mouth with low saliva.
• Feeling nauseous and occasional urge of vomiting.
• Frequent urination, more than the normal frequency.
• Feeling fatigue, extremely tired, lethargic and weak throughout the time without indulging in any activity.
• Blurry vision is also one of the warning signs of diabetes.
• Numbness in the hand or feet, sometimes a tingling feeling on both.
• Infections of skin or urinary tract can also signify one of the diabetes mellitus symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes in Women

A lot of women are suffering from this sugar disease and many of them suffer from it during their pregnancy. Diabetes symptoms in pregnancy may not be fully visible but it usually occurs in women who are overweight before pregnancy, have a history of diabetes or have a high sugar level. Gestational diabetes symptoms occur during the time of pregnancy and proper care must be taken to avoid them. Below are the most common diabetes symptoms in women:

• Increase in thirst and hunger.
• Wounds of all kinds including cuts and bruises heal relatively slow.
• Unusual weight loss in a short period of time, even when eating sufficiently.
• Difficulty in vision which might look blurry at times.
• Sexual problems including lack of sex drive and low vaginal lubrication.

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes in Children

Diabetes symptoms in children are hard to identify as they can’t articulate as nicely as adults. Thus, as a parent, it is your responsibility to look after diabetes insipidus symptoms in babies and begin with the treatment as early as possible. If you want to know whether your child is showing early signs of diabetes, you must look out for some behavior symptoms that indicate the onset of diabetes. Below are some of the first symptoms of juvenile diabetes that you must look out for in children:

• The increase in thirst and hunger, especially after drinking and eating enough.
• Female children or babies developing a yeast infection can be an early sign of juvenile diabetes.
• Having an itchy skin for a prolonged period.
• Fast heart rate and headache.
• Feeling nauseous frequently or occurrence of vomiting.
• Quick weight loss in a short amount of time.
• Wetting the bed frequently or excessive urination.