How to test blood sugar and how do they work?

Monitoring your blood sugar levels is crucial for managing diabetes and maintaining overall health. With advancements in technology, testing your blood sugar at home has become more accessible and convenient. Apart from the traditional method of pricking fingers and with the use of test strips, saliva can now be used to test sugar level which is more convenient and easier to use.

Through self monitoring sugar levels, you can keep track of your levels to adjust diet and exercise. You also gain access to detecting how your blood sugar changes over time to prevent serious health issues, or how it changes depending on different activities you are carrying out. 

Traditional blood glucose machine

The traditional way of measuring blood sugar is through the use of a glucose machine. It is a device that measures the amount of sugar by analyzing blood samples, which you will need to collect by pricking your finger with the use of a lancet device and test strips.

How to use blood glucose machine can be differ slightly depending on the brand of your choice but follows the same rule. If you are uncertain how your version works, please check the manual for specific instructions. These tests work by measuring the level of glucose oxidase and transform it to a reading through electrical currents. 

Before testing, you should always wash your hands with soap and warm water to ensure your hands are clean. Prepare the lancet device and use a new needle with your customized settings. Insert the test strips into the glucose meter and then prick your finger with the lancet device. You should always prick the side of your fingertip for less pain. Squeeze your finger and touch the edge of the test strip to collect the blood once it is ready. Make sure your glucose meter is calibrated and test strips are not expired, as these will cause the readings to be inaccurate. Remember to dispose both test strips and the used needle after each use.

Saliva Glucose Tracker

Testing sugar level with saliva is the new and modern method. Like a flu test, all you need is the tracker to detect chemicals. Nothing else. This is preferred by a lot of individuals because of its affordability and ease of use. No need to worry about wasted test strips or using a lancet to take blood samples anymore. This painless, portable and no blood method is definitely the better choice. No need to worry about the accuracy as the accuracy are comparable to existing glucose meter.

Take the tracker out, put it in your mouth for around 1 minute, and place the tracker aside for 3-5 minutes. Thats all you need to do! If the tracker turns red/pink from white, that means high sugar is detected. The darker the red, the more sugar is detected. If the colour remains unchanged, congratulations!

You may also use your phone to take a picture of the tracker with the app, and it will immediately tell you the exact reading and save the record in your phone for future use and reference. Easy!

Testing your blood sugar at home is a vital part of managing diabetes and maintaining your health. If you are unsure whether you have high blood sugar level, saliva glucose tracker is a viable option for you because of no upfront cost for all the equipment and does not take up any storage space.