December 29, 2006, Newsletter Issue #83: How Diabetes Testing Strips Work
Tip of the Week
A person with diabetes knows how to test their blood glucose; you place a small sample of blood on a disposable "diabetes test strip" after it has been inserted into the glucometer.
These test strips are coated with one or more of the following chemicals:
* glucose oxidase
* dehydrogenase
* hexokinase
The chemical combines with glucose in blood, isolating from the rest of the blood, then the meter measures how much glucose is present. Meters do this in different ways.
Some measure the amount of electricity that can pass through the sample, while others measure how much light reflects from it - both a measure of the amount of glucose present in the blood sample.
When a test strip is exposed to light or moisture, the chemical is altered, which impairs its ability to isolate the glucose in your blood. This will give you erroneous readings on your glucometer.
So, like the rest of your diabetes testing supplies, your test strips have a special function in promoting accurate blood glucose measurement and supporting effective management of your diabetes.
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