Diabetes test at home is Possible using a diabetes test strip. Follow this instruction to check diabetes at home:
- Insert a diabetes test strip into your meter.
- Pierce your fingertip with the needle (lancet) supplied with your test kit.
- Keep the edge of the test strip touching the drop of blood.
- The meter will display your blood sugar level on the screen after a few seconds.
Did you know that more than 37 million people in the United
States have diabetes and that one in every five is unaware that they have it?
Diabetes at-home tests measure A1c and can assist in
identifying people who have prediabetes or diabetes but are unaware of it. They
can also aid in the management of diabetes treatment plans.
There are two kinds of tests: mail-in and point-of-care.
Susan Renda, nurse practitioner and certified diabetes educator at Johns
Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, strongly advises you to call your
healthcare provider to discuss the results and develop a plan for the future,
regardless of the type of test you use or the results.
What Are Diabetes Self-Tests?
Hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells, transports
sugar throughout your body. Everyone has sugar attached to their hemoglobin,
but the amount varies. A higher blood sugar level indicates that more sugar is
bound to hemoglobin.
Diabetes at-home tests measure hemoglobin A1c, also known as
A1c. This metric indicates the proportion of red blood cells that contain
sugar-coated hemoglobin. Renda describes it as "a red blood cell telling a
story about the sugar around it."
Your A1c is the average of your blood glucose levels over
the previous two to three months. This type of test is useful for identifying
people who are at risk of developing diabetes or who already have diabetes but
are unaware of it.
A1c levels of less than 5.7% are considered normal. A1c
between 5.7% and 6.4% indicates prediabetes, and A1c greater than 6.5%
indicates diabetes.
Diabetes home tests are also beneficial for diabetics. It
enables them to assess the effectiveness of their diabetes treatment plan.
Because your A1c is only good for 2 to 3 months, it should not be used to
adjust treatment plans on a daily basis. Make use of your glucometer for this.
Diabetes patients typically test their A1c two to three
times per year. While everyone's A1c target is different, having an A1c of more
than 7% puts you at risk for diabetes complications.
Diabetes Home Tests Types
Diabetes home tests are classified into two types:
Mail-in test kits are available. You provide a finger-prick blood sample for these kits and mail it to the lab associated with the kit.
Point-of-care supplies. These test kits include an A1c analyzer, which resembles a glucometer. Within five minutes of submitting a finger-prick blood sample, your results will be displayed on the analyzer.
You can purchase either of these diabetes home test kits
online or from a pharmacy. There are minor differences in usability, the turnaround
time for results, and cost.
Who Should Use Diabetes Self-Test Kits?
With many Americans unaware that they have prediabetes or
diabetes, Renda suggests that people who are feeling fine but have risk factors
for developing diabetes consider getting tested.
"Perhaps you go to a family reunion and you're
listening to everyone and you find out like half your relatives have
diabetes," she said. And you're like, well, I'm fine. I haven't been
checked in a while, but I'm intrigued."
Diabetes, according to Renda, can be detected with regular care,
such as going to the dentist or getting your eyes checked. People who do not
have access to health care, particularly primary care, may benefit from
diabetes home tests.
When Should You Have Your Blood Sugar Tested?
When you should test your blood sugar depends on the type of diabetes you have and whether you take diabetes medications. Your doctor will
advise you on how frequently you should test. Blood sugar levels are typically
measured as follows:
Before you eat or drink anything, do this first thing in the
morning.
2 hours before and 2 hours after a meal
Before going to bed
Even if you don't have symptoms, you should test your blood
sugar if you're concerned that it's becoming too high or too low. A glucometer
is the most accurate way to test your blood sugar at home.
Glucometers, also known as blood sugar monitors, are
excellent for monitoring your blood sugar levels at home throughout the day.
They provide you with real-time data on how well you're controlling your blood
sugar levels.
You may notice that certain foods raise your blood sugar while skipping lunch causes it to fall too low. This data can help you and your
doctor adjusts your treatment plan to avoid hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.
To show your health care provider during appointments, keep
a log of your readings and the time they were taken on paper, in an app on your
phone, or saved in your glucometer.
What Factors Can Influence Home Blood Sugar Tests?
There are numerous glucometers available on the market.
Whatever you choose, make sure to read the instructions carefully. The first
step toward getting an accurate reading is understanding how to use it
properly. Other factors that can influence the outcome include:
Using test strips that are out of date or have been improperly
stored. The lifespan of test strips is reduced when they are stored at high
temperatures or in areas with high moisture. Closing the test strip vial after
each use can help to prevent this.
Failure to wash your hands before testing. Hand washing with
warm, soapy water prevents food contaminants such as cookies or candy from
giving a false high reading.
Temperature. Being cold can reduce blood flow to your skin.
While most people collect blood with their fingers, some may use another site,
such as their forearms. If you use a different test site, your results may be
less accurate if your body is cold.
There are issues with the meter. Your meter may display
error messages. If you receive an error message and need assistance
troubleshooting it, contact the manufacturer.
How to Conduct a Home Test
Because each test kit is unique, make sure to read the
instructions before testing. Some companies may have videos on their websites
that show you how to use the kit.
Kits for Mailing
Mail-in test kits
will include all necessary items. Kit contents vary depending on the kit, but
in general, they include:
- A collection tube or card for blood
- Lancets
- Gauze
- A biohazard container
- Wipes with rubbing alcohol
- A postal label
Fill out any necessary information on the blood collection
card or tube, as well as the biohazard bag, before collecting your blood
sample. Prick your finger with the lancet device after cleaning it with alcohol
and allowing it to dry. Collect your blood sample and mail it according to the
kit's instructions.
Point-of-Care Supplies
The following items
will be included in point-of-care testing kits:
- An A1c tester
- Lancets
- The shaker
- A device for collecting blood
Prick your finger with the lancet. After collecting your
blood sample, shake it and place it on the A1c analyzer according to the
instructions. Your results will be available in 5 minutes.
What Influences Accuracy?
Certain conditions, according to Renda, can affect accuracy.
"If someone has a blood disorder, it won't be as accurate," for
example. Other conditions that can have an impact on A1c results include:
- Anemia of severe severity
- The disease of the Liver
- Kidney disease
- Several medications
- Transfusions or blood loss
- Pregnancy, whether early or late
Before testing, Renda advised checking the kit's expiration
date. Using an expired kit can reduce the precision of your results. The inability to complete the technical tasks required or understand how to perform each
step of the test can also have an impact on accuracy.
Every time, call your health care provider about your home
test results.
"People should test, then follow up with an appointment
with an experienced clinician who can go over these things with them and talk
about their overall health," Renda advises. "There may still be
lifestyle changes that can help prevent diabetes in the future."
Comparing Home and Laboratory Test Results
"Some of the home tests had pretty good accuracy that
was comparable to the lab," Renda said, but she cautioned that you should
be cautious.
Various studies have yielded conflicting results. A1c values
measured by the A1C Now Selfcheck device were found to be accurate and within
an acceptable range of the lab value in a 2010 study. Participants who watched
a DVD on how to perform the test had lower first-time failure rates than those
who were given written instructions, according to the authors.
A more recent study, published in 2020, discovered an A1c
difference of more than 0.5% in roughly one-third of people who used
point-of-care devices versus their lab results. The authors noted that there
can be significant variation between devices, echoing the findings of a 2017
study.
As with any test, false positives and negatives are possible.
This means that your results may indicate that you have prediabetes or diabetes
when you do not, and vice versa. Renda explains that if a point-of-care test
results in a false negative but you have diabetes symptoms, you should still
see a doctor.
Knowing Your Blood Sugar Levels Is Critical
Your blood sugar level will fluctuate throughout the day
depending on what you eat and how active you are. According to the CDC, a
normal blood sugar range before a meal is 80 to 130 mg/dL and less than 180
mg/dL two hours after a meal.
When your blood glucose levels rise above the normal range,
you are at risk of developing hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia.
Hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia occurs when your blood sugar level is too
high, either because you have insufficient insulin or your body is not
responding to insulin as it should (a condition called insulin resistance).
Hyperglycemia can be caused by stress, illness, and certain food choices. When
your blood sugar is too high, you may experience the following symptoms:
- hazy vision
- Urinary frequency has increased.
- Infections that do not heal or heal slowly
- Feeling extremely tired or thirsty
- Even though you've eaten, you're constantly hungry.
- Loss of weight
These symptoms can
also be seen in people who have undiagnosed diabetes.
Hypoglycemia
When your blood sugar is too low, you have hypoglycemia.
Most people consider blood sugar levels below 70 mg/dL to be dangerously low.
It may be accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Shakiness, sleepiness, or dizziness
- Having difficulty seeing
- Nausea
- Hunger
- Rapid heartbeat
- Sweating
- Headache
Hypoglycemia is caused by taking too much insulin, drinking
too much alcohol, exercising too much, or skipping a meal. Hypoglycemia can
have serious consequences. As a result, it should be treated as soon as
possible.
