Blood Sugar | Say goodbye to finger pricking and use saliva instead!

Diabetes is one of the major chronic diseases in Hong Kong. There are currently no curable methods for diabetes, but if your blood sugar is only slightly elevated, controlling it is possible through lifestyle modification, supplements and medication. In minor cases, it is even possible to reverse the elevated high blood sugar and prevent potential complications of diabetes.

Regular blood sugar monitoring for health management

People with diabetes need to monitor their blood sugar regularly to avoid hyperglycemia. Finger-prick method is the most common method which involves using a lancet and needle to obtain blood samples, then measuring the blood sugar level with a glucose meter.

With technological advancements, “finger pricking” is no longer necessary. Those who are fear of needle, blood or pain have alternative options, such as saliva glucose tracker or sensor-based glucose monitoring devices. Research shows that one in three people is in the prediabetic stage, so early prevention and screening for high blood sugar are equally important. Diagnosing diabetes requires blood test, while other methods are only for reference only. Regardless , these other methods can also serve the purpose of early detection and support health management.

Saliva glucose tracker analyzes biomarker molecules in the saliva sample to measure sugar content and calculate blood glucose levels. Place the tracker in your mouth for 1 minute and wait for 5 minutes. The tracker will remain white in colour if your glucose level is normal. Otherwise, the redder the tracker, the more glucose is detected. The product also includes a color chart for users to compare and determine their levels. This product is simple to use and suitable for most people, encouraging those who refuse to use traditional testing and those that are yet to be diabetics. The downside is that the test strips rely on color differentiation, which can be difficult to determine accurately without a smart phone.

Sensor-based glucose monitoring devices use a “continuous glucose monitoring system” to detect the glucose in the interstitial fluid under the skin and estimate the blood glucose levels. The sensor includes a soft needle for implanting under the skin, and users can simply attach this sensor to their skin to detect blood sugar levels at any time for two weeks. This is particularly suitable for those who need continuous data to assist doctors adjusting medication and dosage, or for patients with large fluctuations in blood sugar and poor control. The downside is the sensors are quite pricey, can only be used for 14 days. It needs to be attached on the skin for a long term, which can cause sensitivity or irritation for some individuals. Since the sensor involves a needle, it still poses the same problem for those who are fear to and refuse using needles.

Choosing the appropriate method for your needs to develop good habits

After weighing the pros and cons, public can choose the most suitable method for measuring blood sugar according to their needs. They can also use different products to achieve better results, such as using a glucometer once a week and test strips for the rest of the time, thus benefiting from both methods.