Diabetes supplies for home testing

Test strips

Every time you measure your glucose level, you use a test strip. People with diabetes therefore buy a considerable number of test strips each year. You insert the strip – with your blood on it – into the glucose meter. After a few seconds, the glucose value appears on the meter’s screen. Each brand of glucose meter uses its own type of test strip.

Glucose meters

Want to measure your blood sugar yourself? Then you need a glucose meter. Often a complete starter kit is the most economical option. Such a kit contains everything you need to start measuring right away. Inexpensive blood glucose meters are often perfectly good. They all work with blood. By inserting a strip with blood into the meter, you can see your blood glucose level within a few seconds.

Lancets

If you measure your own glucose, you also have to draw your own blood. Blood sampling is done with a lancet. Lancets are disposable needles used to make a small puncture in the skin of the finger. This way you draw a few drops of blood for testing. In this way, pricking blood is very easy and almost painless. Measuring your own glucose always involves pricking blood. This can be done with a lancing device. A lancet is placed in the lancing device. When you order a glucose meter, a lancing device is usually included as standard. However, lancing devices can also be ordered separately and here with a 10% discount for regular customers. With the lancing device, you prick the side of the fingertip of your middle or ring finger to obtain a small drop of blood for the measurement.

Pen needles

Pen needles are used to administer insulin. Needles for insulin pens have become thinner and shorter to make injections easier and less painful. Most pen needles are universal and fit all insulin pens. However, some needles are specific to a particular type of pen.