Diabetic Medical Supply Essentials

An Easy Guide to the Products You Need

Don't be overwhelmed by all the diabetic medical supply products out there. We're here to help. If you've been newly diagnosed, it can certainly feel overwhelming to browse through the medical supply store to determine and understand what you need. You are not alone.

According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 20 million Americans are affected by diabetes, and more than 40 million are considered pre diabetic.

Once a physician has determined you or a loved one has diabetes, there are a variety of medical supplies you will need to have in order to monitor and manage diabetes.

There is very important aspect of diabetes that you need to follow to prevent complications: monitoring your blood sugar levels. By maintaining a healthy diet, engaging in exercise and keeping track of blood sugar levels, you can live a healthy, active life just like anyone else.

Here, is our easy guide to common diabetic medical supplies are out there, and why you may need them:

• Lancet Device: While not many find pricking the skin to be ideal, it is essential to puncture the skin to draw blood for testing. A lancet device contains a small needle, which pricks the skin at a test site in order for you to obtain a few drops of blood to be tested on a strip. Testing the blood from a drop on the finger is common, though some lancets allow you to test from alternative sites should the fingers become sore from continuous testing.

• Test Strips: In order to test the blood, you need to use the lancet device to prick the skin (usually on the finger) and add the drops of blood to a test strip on the designated location. Once the test strip is ready, it is entered into a reader to let you know your current blood sugar levels. Test strips vary, depending on the meter you have, but usually only last three months at a time, as they are sensitive to various temperatures and conditions.
  

It is useful to note that when purchasing test strips, many medical supply stores (either online or brick and mortar) might offer you a free meter.

• Glucose Meter: Once you have your test strips and lancet, you need to purchase a meter in order to test your blood. Technology has made it so that reading glucose meters are as easy as possible and take only a few seconds to get an accurate reading.  If you have trouble seeing, meters come with large displays and for those who have joint aches in the hands or fingers, many glucose meters are easy to hold and grip to get testing done quickly and efficiently.

• Insulin Pump: To ensure you get the proper dosage of insulin when you need it to maintain a proper blood sugar level, insulin pumps are small, discreet and easy to handle to give you the precise amount of insulin you need, which takes the guesswork away from you.
  
  
• Control Solution: In order to make sure your meter and test strips are still reading accurately, you are able to use a control solution to test your equipment as frequently as needed. If you have been traveling, a control solution is a great way to ensure varying humidity or temperature levels have not affected your equipment.

Diabetic equipment can add up in cost, especially if you do not have medical insurance. An online medical supply store often sells diabetic tools and equipment at a lower cost and includes shipping directly to your home, for low to no extra shipping cost.

Medical supply stores in your community will also have diabetic tools, but may vary in cost depending on your location.

No matter where you purchase your diabetic medical supplies, you need to make sure they are coming from reputable and trusted manufacturers. Aside from your physician, there are knowledgeable individuals at a diabetic medical supply company, both online and in-store, that can help you choose the items you need and provide you with help should you need some additional guidance.

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