Diabetes Testing

For people who have diabetes, it is important to regularly test blood glucose (sugar) levels. The readings from their blood glucose meter can help in making informed decisions about their exercise and diet. There are several different methods to test blood glucose:

1. Finger-Stick Test: This test involves using a single drop a blood which is obtained from a fingertip, which is placed on a small test strip and inserted into a blood glucose testing meter. A reading is then displayed on the meter's digital window display.
2. Alternate-Site Test: Alternate site diabetes testing involves obtaining blood from the forearm or thigh. Because there are fewer nerve endings in these places than in the tips of fingers, there is less pain in testing in this manner.
3. Hemoglobin A1c Test: This test is actually designed to monitor your diabetes management program over the span of two to three months. The A1c test measures a person's total glycated hemoglobin (GbA1c) level, reflecting the average blood glucose level over a period of time. There are both tests available at your doctor's office or in your home. For qualified beneficiaries, this test is covered 100% by Medicare. The goal for most diabetic people who take this test is to have a Hemoglobin A1c of less than 7%.

Diabetes Testing Tips:

- Be sure to wash and dry your hands before doing any testing. If you use hot or warm water to wash your hands, it will help to keep your blood flowing.
- Clean the skin surface where you plan to obtain your blood sample with a fresh alcohol wipe.
- Make sure to calibrate your meter with each new box of diabetes testing strips. It is important to use the control solution on the test strip to ensure that you are using the right strips for your meter, and that they are still fresh. Also, make sure that the control solution itself is also fresh.
- Use a fresh test strip for every reading. They can and do expire, so it is important to make sure you are using test strips that have not expired. Also, test strips are for one-time use only, so an unused strip should be used every time.
- Just like the test strips in your kit, the lancets that come with your testing kit were designed for single use only. Reusing lancets from past tests can lead to increased pain, irritated test sites and infection among other things.

If you have any trouble obtaining a blood sample, try letting your hand hang down below the level of your heart. This will change the flow of the blood, so squeezing your finger from the base to the tip should now provide enough blood for a sample.

Parents face trial in diabetes death of SoCal teen - San Jose Mercury News

Parents face trial in diabetes death of SoCal teen San Jose Mercury News AP RIVERSIDE, Calif.—Trial has begun for a Riverside County couple accused of letting their daughter slip into a deadly diabetic coma in their filthy ... Prosecutor: Couple allowed teen to dieThe Desert Sun Parents charged in diabetic's deathUPI.com all 34 news articles »

Georgetown's Austin Freeman facing life with diabetes - newjerseynewsroom.com

Afro American

Georgetown's Austin Freeman facing life with diabetes newjerseynewsroom.com Freeman learned he had diabetes — a condition where a high blood sugar level develops because of an insulin imbalance — last Monday when he went to the ... Georgetown's Freeman learning to cope with diabetesNewsday (subscription) Georgetown's Austin Freeman Develops DiabetesAfro American all 4 news articles »

Amylin, Alkermes Sit in Suspense For FDA Verdict on Once-Weekly Diabetes Drug - Xconomy

SDNN

Amylin, Alkermes Sit in Suspense For FDA Verdict on Once-Weekly Diabetes Drug Xconomy This diabetes drug is a first-of-its kind treatment that takes a key ingredient in Amylin's top-selling drug, exenatide (Byetta), and packages it with a ... Amylin, Lilly Diabetes Drug Faces Crucial FDA DecisionWall Street Journal Diabetes Drug Makers Move Before Ruling, Plus Fast Food NewsSeeking Alpha (blog) Should FDA Really Approve Byetta LAR?Minyanville.com eMaxHealth -Reuters -FavStocks (blog) all 25 news articles »

Wadena, Minn., man missing, needs diabetes medication - Dickinson Press

KSAX

Wadena, Minn., man missing, needs diabetes medication Dickinson Press A 76-year-old man in need of diabetes medication went missing here Monday morning, authorities say. WADENA, Minn. – A 76-year-old man in need of diabetes ... Missing Wadena Man Found by PoliceKSAX Authorities seek missing Wadena manBrainerd Daily Dispatch Wadena man missingWDAY WCCO -Park Rapids Enterprise all 25 news articles »

Watson settles patent battle over generic diabetes treatment - NJBIZ

Watson settles patent battle over generic diabetes treatment NJBIZ Based in Morristown, Watson's application to sell a generic equivalent version of Takeda's Actos diabetes treatment was stalled after Japan- and Deerfield, ... Drugmaker Watson settles dispute over ActosBusinessWeek Watson reaches patent settlement for Actos genericDrug Store News Watson, Takeda resolve Actos patent litigationReuters PR Newswire (press release) all 27 news articles »