Diabetic Testing Supplies

We carry just about every testing product that diabetics need on a daily basis. We make it as simple as possible for our members to get the care they need. We accept Medicare, Medicaid, Private insurance and most forms of personal payment methods. Our members never have to worry about running out of supplies. Convenience plus great support equal a healthy and happier diabetic.

When people with diabetes can control their blood sugar (glucose), they are more likely to stay healthy. People with diabetes use two kinds of management devices: glucose meters and other diabetes management tests. Glucose meters help people with diabetes check their blood sugar at home, school, work, and play. Other blood and urine tests reveal trends in diabetes management and help identify diabetes complications.

Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose
The process of monitoring one's own blood glucose with a glucose meter is often referred to as self-monitoring of blood glucose or "SMBG." Portable glucose meters are small battery-operated devices.

Diabetic Test Strips
We offer you top quality diabetic testing supplies. Diabetic test strips or glucose test strips are thin, one-time use pieces of plastic that are placed into a meter to read your blood glucose levels. Blood can be either dropped onto a test strip or drawn into one, depending on the type.

Diabetic Test Strips: Accuracy
For accurate results, follow a specific routine. Remember to code your meter with every new box of test strips. Be sure to use control solutions/control strips. This is the only way to know that your test strips are accurate. One test per box is usually sufficient unless you left the remaining strips exposed for a prolonged period of time. If you get an abnormally high or low test reading (a number that does not match your symptoms), check that your meter is coded properly; then do a control test before adjusting medications. Don't reuse lancets; this will lead to calluses, infections and increased pain.

Make sure that the test strips you purchase are compatible with your blood glucose monitor. Strips sold by third parties or generic diabetic test strips (only available in Europe and Asia) are less expensive and should be used only with the meters for which they are recommended. Many times there are test strips being sold that have a discontinued monitor. Make sure to always check on the compatibility between monitors and test strips before you buy.

Diabetic Lancets
Lancets are used for diabetic testing. It's the device that punctures the finger (or alternative site for most new meters) to extract blood for testing. Diabetic lancets are available in different gauges. The gauge of the lancet refers to the width of the metal point. The higher the gauge, the smaller the perforation the lancet makes. Usually a higher-gauge lancet is less painful to use, but it may be harder to get an adequate amount of blood with a higher-gauge lancet.

Some individuals use lancets alone to get a blood sample. This method can sometime be painful so most people prefer to use some type of diabetic lancing device. A lancing device uses a spring mechanism to insert the lancet into the skin. It also allows the user to adjust the depth depending on the thickness of the skin and sensitivity of the fingertip. In this way, enough blood can be obtained without causing unnecessary pain. In most cases, when you buy a blood glucose monitor a lancing device is included.

Lancets and automatic lancing devices are frequently provided as part of blood glucose monitoring kits. Most lancet devices come with short and long lancet covers to provide different degrees of penetration, and many have adjustable covers or caps. Generally, people who are first-time users, children, or people with delicate skin prefer a longer cover for more shallow penetration of the lancet. People who have tougher skin or poor circulation choose a shorter cover for deeper penetration by the lancet. An individual may need to use different lancet covers for different fingers or when finger temperature affects blood flow.

Ease of resetting the lancet for the next use varies. Some products require the cover to be removed so that the lancet can be pushed back into position. Others have a simple push-pull mechanism that resets the spring. The latter may be preferable for children or people with coordination problems.

It's a good idea to keep an automatic lancing device at each place you may test-at home, at work, at school-so you won't have to carry one from place to place. Automatic lancing devices are inexpensive and last a long time, so owning more than one should be affordable. Remember that you should never share your automatic lancing device because of the small but real risk of transmitting disease by contaminated blood.

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