More and more people are suffering from diabetes. Glucometers, or blood glucose meters, allow the patient to measure their blood glucose level on their own, without having to go to the hospital or to the doctor to do so.

Glucometers have been around since the 70s and have been available over the counter since 1981. Since then, people with diabetes can monitor their blood sugar levels themselves at home without having to travel. Glucometers therefore free from this constraint and also allow patients to better understand and manage their disease.

Composition of the different glucometers

Glucometers look like small, portable boxes that fit in your pocket or purse. Since their invention, they have greatly evolved. We can now cite three types, each of which has advantages and disadvantages.

The strip glucometer

This is the classic model. It is composed of an auto-pricker, a test strip and a reader where the result is displayed, that is to say the concentration of glucose in the blood.

The needle of the lancing device is used to prick the fingertip, the drop of blood collected is placed on a strip which is inserted into the reader. Glucose in the blood reacts with an enzyme on the strip, which generates an electric current whose intensity is proportional to the amount of glucose present. The result gives the glucose concentration in milligrams per deciliter.

The electrode meter

This auto-biting glucometer is automatic and works without a strip. The drop of blood is analyzed directly on the sampling area using electrodes where it triggers the same chemical reaction as for the strip system. The result obtained is more precise and faster, and the quantity of blood required for the analysis is less important.

The sensor glucose meter

In this model, there is no longer any need for blood, so we no longer sting. The auto pricker is replaced by a sensor which is placed on the arm or the lower abdomen. The glucose concentration, which is continuously measured and scanned by the meter, corresponds to the concentration of sugar in interstitial fluids (equivalent to that of blood).

The advantage of this continuous glucose measurement is that it can react quickly to fluctuations and reduce periods of hypoglycemia. Some models are connected to the insulin pump.

The connected glucometer

This glucometer, which works either with an auto-pricker or with a sensor, transmits the recorded results to the meter via a Bluetooth or USB connection.

Glucometers provide people with diabetes with the ability to measure their glucose levels several times a day, allowing them to respond quickly to changes in their blood sugar. Glucometers are therefore essential allies for many diabetics, whether they are type I or type II.

Type I diabetes (insulin dependent)

It is the autoimmune form of diabetes, which accounts for 10% of total diabetes cases and occurs most often in young people. It is due to a genetic deficiency in insulin, the hypoglycaemic hormone which lowers the level of glucose in the blood and therefore prevents hyperglycaemia after meals. This irreversible form of diabetes can be “cured” by injections of insulin given several times a day.

The use of a glucometer for type I diabetes is therefore particularly useful for monitoring changes in their blood sugar levels and adapting the frequency of insulin injections accordingly. Poorly managed insulin therapy may cause hypoglycemia in the event of excessive injections, and in the most severe cases lead to diabetic coma.

Type II diabetes (insulin resistant)

The origin of this form of diabetes is not genetic but it is linked to a disturbance in the assimilation of carbohydrates, a direct consequence of a poor lifestyle (too rich and unbalanced diet, sedentary lifestyle, alcohol, tobacco, etc. .). This form of diabetes affects 5% (at least) of the French population, and most often occurs around the age of 65, although more and more young people are affected.

Changing lifestyle habits is often enough to bring blood sugar back to normal. In the most severe cases, the use of drugs and / or insulin therapy is prescribed. In this case, the glucometer makes it possible to monitor the effectiveness of the treatments and to adapt them.

Blood sugar level

Le National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends blood sugar threshold values ​​for diabetics: 

The auto-biting glucometer

Measuring your blood sugar several times a day using a glucometer is quick and easy to do. However, despite this apparent ease of use, certain precautions must be taken to ensure that the recorded results are reliable.

1. Wash your hands with lukewarm water to increase blood flow to the fingers.
2. Dry hands well to prevent the drop of blood from diffusing onto the skin.
3. Do not rub alcohol or any other product on your hands so as not to distort the results.

Using the sensor

Sensor glucose monitors are not suitable for children under 4, pregnant women or people on dialysis. The sensor placed on the skin measures glucose every minute and calculates an average value every 15 minutes. The reader is used to scan the sensor and display the results: blood glucose values, trends, history, etc. To function properly, the sensor must be installed with care.

1. Apply the sensor to clean, dry skin using the applicator.
2. Turn on the reader to activate the sensor.
3. Wait about an hour to scan the sensor the first time.
4. Scan by placing the reader within 4 cm of the sensor, measurements can be made through clothing.
5. Change the sensor after 14 days of use.

Precautions to take

Always stick to the instructions given by the doctor or nursing staff for the use of your glucose meter, rather than researching yourself on the Internet which could lead to misuse and therefore to false results.

The selection criteria

• The sampling mode: by self-injection or sensor;
• The sample analysis support: strips or electrodes;
• Reading the result: the screens are larger or smaller and more or less readable in natural light;
• Power supply: by batteries or by recharging via USB connection;
• Memory: up to 360 results can be saved and in some cases averages can be calculated;
• Calibration: for each new batch of strips, the device must be calibrated (by entering a code manually or by scanning a bar code) except for chip strips for which the calibration is done automatically at each measurement;
• Connectivity: the measurements for some glucometer models can be transferred to a computer or smartphone via USB or Bluetooth;
• Support by mutuals.