How to use a blood glucose test strip correctly?

The blood sugar measurement is very easy to perform with modern equipment. In the home environment, a drop of blood is usually taken from the fingertip for the measurement.

For this purpose, the fingertip must first be cleaned and disinfected with an alcoholic swab.
Then a small stitch is made on the side of the fingertip with a disposable pricker. At the beginning this can take some effort, but newer lancing devices are hardly painful and well tolerated.
By carefully stroking the finger, a drop of blood collects at the wound. The first drop should be wiped with a swab and discarded.
After renewed wiping, the test strip already inserted in the blood glucose meter is held with the measuring chamber against the blood drops. Immediately some blood is sucked into the test strip and the measurement starts.
After a few seconds, depending on the manufacturer, the display of the device shows the blood sugar concentration. A clean swab is used to clean the finger, a patch is applied if necessary and the test strip is disposed of.

How much do test strips cost for blood sugar?

Prices vary depending on manufacturer and package size. Per test strip the prices are between 25 and 55 cents. Larger packs bring a clear saving and are particularly suitable for diabetics, who have to control the blood sugar closely.

The price differences do not change anything in the accuracy of the measurement results. The measuring results may not exceed, after a ISO standard, a certain deviation from the real value. Which device and which suitable test strips are used depends therefore primarily on the personal preferences.

Many manufacturers offer their devices for testing, so you can compare and finally buy the device you can best deal with. The extent to which test strips may be prescribed to patients is determined by the associations of panel doctors. In principle, type 1 diabetics and women who develop diabetes during pregnancy can be prescribed test strips as required.

Type 2 diabetics who are not treated with insulin cannot be prescribed test strips, except in exceptional situations. As a general rule, prescribed test strips are exempt from the statutory co-payment and are therefore paid in full by the health insurance company. However, if no diabetes is diagnosed, the test strips must be paid for by the patient.