Diabetes Supplies - What You Need to Know

Once a person has been diagnosed with diabetes, they, along with their doctor, will need to develop a plan to properly manage and control their blood sugar levels. This includes eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise, as well as regularly testing their glucose levels to avoid complications like hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. Because of the need for consistent monitoring of a diabetic’s sugar levels, most people with diabetes require a number of supplies, many of which must be carried with the diabetic at all times.

Most diabetics need supplies to check their blood glucose levels. The sugar levels in the blood can not go too high, or hyperglycemia will occur and could result in unconsciousness, If the levels drop too low, the person may develop hypoglycemia, which could lead to a coma or death. To keep these levels in check, a person with diabetes must test their blood using a glucose meter.

There are several different types of glucose meters available. Some models offer more portability with a convenient size, others require less blood for testing, and some have special features like saving previous test results. The price of glucose meters and their supplies also vary greatly depending on the model, but all meters are typically used in a similar way.

A diabetic must first obtain a small amount of blood to perform the test. This is most often done with a lancing device that pricks the fingertip. An alcohol pad is used first to clean and sterilize the area that the blood will be drawn from. The lancet is placed into the lancing device, and then the diabetic sets the device to pierce the skin and pricks his finger. Disposable lancets used without a housing device can also be used. A small drop of blood is placed on a test strip, then inserted into the glucose meter to display the blood sugar level.

If a glucose reading is over 240 mg, there is a possibility of elevated ketone levels in the body that can be detected through urine. Large amounts of ketones can result in nausea, stomach cramps, and possible life-threatening complications, so people with diabetes also keep ketone test strips or dipsticks readily available. Diabetics also have some sort of fast sugar with them at all times in case their glucose level drops too low. Fast sugars may be glucose gels or tablets, or can also include cake frosting, hard candy, or fruit juice.

An emergency glucagons kit is also an important supply for a person with diabetes. Glucagon is a hormone that raises the glucose level in the blood. This emergency supply is used if a diabetic is suffering from severe hypoglycemia and has either passed out or can not consume some form of sugar orally. Glucagon kits include the correct dosage of the medicine in a powdered form and a liquid filled syringe to mix the medicine in and then inject into the body. The kits are only available by prescription and may be used for treatment of other conditions as well.

Not everyone with diabetes requires insulin injections, usually just those with type 1 diabetes, but those who do need insulin on a regular basis typically have some sort of insulin kit. There are various types of insulin and some diabetics require a combination of insulin types. Insulin is packaged in either a pre-filled cartridge or in a small, glass container and must be stored at a cool temperature and handled with extreme care. If different insulin types are needed, they are either mixed together or injected separately. The injection site, which may be the upper arms, hips, thighs, stomach, or buttocks, is cleaned with an alcohol pad and then the insulin is self-administered using a syringe. Diabetics must properly dispose of all used syringes, lancets, and other wastes in an approved container.

Insulin can also be administered through an insulin pump. Insulin pumps vary greatly with numerous features, but are all small and portable. A disposable cartridge inside the pump delivers insulin to the body through a canula that is inserted under the skin in any of the areas used for insulin injections. The pump is worn at all times and the canula is changed every two to three days. The site is prepped with a sterilizing solution and the canula is held in place with medical tape. The tape can be easily removed with a medical adhesive remover.

Besides syringes and pumps, there are a few other common ways that insulin may be administered. Insulin pens are becoming more popular because the pre-filled disposable cartridge is simple to use and easy to transport. There are also insulin injectors available that use a strong force to break the skin and inject the insulin. A less popular way to receive insulin is through inhalation. Insulin is often inhaled as a supplement to an insulin injection in some cases.