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Daily Tips

If you break or lose your monitor, there’s no need to take chances with your blood sugar. Continue monitoring your blood glucose by using visual test strips, generically known as reagent strips. There are a number of brand names available and you can get them without a prescription at most pharmacies.

To use them, place a drop of blood on the stick and match the color to the chart on the side of the bottle. However, you must be able to detect slight color changes. (1) The results are not as precise as a blood glucose monitor but they do tell you the range and that is better than not reading at all.

Also, don't throw away your broken monitor. Instead, call the customer service number. Most companies will try to replace the meter within a day or two. Better yet, have an extra meter available because you never want to go without testing.

SOURCE:

Visual interpretation of blood glucose test strips. Diabetes Educ. 1994 Jan-Feb;20(1):41-4.

Keep your diabetes in check

Reviewed by Francine Kaufman, MD. 1/09