Did you know that doctors used to actually taste patients’ urine to see if they had diabetes?

 

The Taste Test

How diabetes is diagnosed is a process that has changed drastically over the years. If you can believe it, back in the day, it started with doctors tasting urine. If the urine was sweet the patient was told they had diabetes. Fortunately, for doctors, they can now just take a bit of blood and get all the information they need.


Blood Glucose Meters


There are so many blood glucose meters on the market that it is hard to know what to get. They each have their pros and cons. There are many comparison charts out there. Whatever you choose, make sure that it either is covered by your insurance or fits in your budget. There are even some new programs that you can order as subscription services. Some of these are sponsored by major employers. Check with your employer to see if they use one of these services.


Continuous Glucose Monitors


Continuous glucose monitors, also called sensors, are devices that have greatly improved the level of care for people with diabetes. Rather than making decisions based on a few points in time when the blood sugar is checked, a decision is made based on 24 hours’ worth of blood sugars. Most sensors are checking and recording a blood sugar every 5 minutes!

Some of the devices are able to send alerts to the person with diabetes and even their caregivers. Many CGMs even have the ability to vibrate to wake up the individual if they are having low blood sugar in the middle of the night. Another great benefit of CGMs: less needles! Depending on the model, they only need to be changed every 7 days, 10 days, 14 days, or even only every 3 months! Now that is some pretty incredible technology. Check out this Youtube video for additional information about CGMs!

      

Summary
Diabetes technology is constantly evolving! There are websites devoted to comparing current blood glucose meters and the new technology based on your specific needs.  Check out one here. If  you are someone who struggles with checking your blood sugar with your meter, a continuous glucose monitor might be right for you.

 

Disclaimer Statement: This is for educational purposes only and not intended as medical advice. For individual medical advice, contact your healthcare practitioner.