ARE YOU DIABETIC? THEN YOU NEED A GLUCOMETER.

A glucometer is a portable device that measures and records your blood sugar levels at any particular time or place. This device uses a battery making it efficient in areas without electricity. It is a once in a lifetime expense that will only require additional strips and needles. It is a very important device for diabetic patients and the recording keeping feature helps the doctor in understanding how an individual blood sugar levels are fluctuating.

With the pandemic looming over our movements and restricting them, this device is very important as it limits your daily doctor’s check-up allowing you to only seek it when it is absolutely necessary.

The use of this device can influence a person’s diet making them turn to healthier options in order to reduce the glucose levels. It helps the patient in understanding their own condition better and for their family members to be aware of what is happening. The device is designed in such a way that a patient can perform the test by themselves without any help.

HOW IT WORKS

• The Glucometer has two buttons labeled M and S. The M stands for mode while the S stands for
• The device is turned on by inserting one of the strips and making sure that the codes displayed are the same as that on the strip container. Once this is confirmed you can proceed.
• The next step is taking the pen-like device and opening the cap in order to insert the provided needle. The needle needs to be pushed inside until the transparent side turns red.
• Close back the cap and prepare the patient’s finger by disinfecting it with an alcohol swab.
• Prick the finger by pushing the needle out using the side dragging feature.
• Wipe away the first drop of blood and squeeze out more.
• Put the other end of the strip to the blood so that the device can pick it up. It is important for the blood to be sufficient so that it can fill up the required strip
• The machine will count down to 10secs and then give you your measurements.
• If the device doesn’t have the normal small figure denominations then you can calculate it by dividing the number by 18, e.g. 346/18=19.22

This type of technology is a great advancement in the fight against diabetes which happens to be increasing in East Africa.

There are three main types of diabetes;

1. Type 1 diabetes; A chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin

• Can develop at any age but occurs most frequently in children and adolescents.

2. Type 2 diabetes; A chronic condition that affects the way the body processes blood sugar(glucose)

• Is more common in adults and accounts for around 90% of all diabetes cases.

3. Gestational diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is often milder than type 1 but it can still cause major health complications especially in the tiny blood vessels in your kidneys, nerves, and eyes. Type 2 also raises your risk of heart disease and stroke.

CAUSES

Type 1 diabetes

It is an autoimmune condition. This means your immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the beta cells in your pancreas that produce insulin. The damage is permanent

What causes this attack is not definite and both genetic and environmental reasons may be the cause. Lifestyle factors aren’t enough to play a role.

Type 2 diabetes

Starts as insulin resistance which means the body cannot use the insulin efficiently. Stimulating your pancreas to produce more insulin until it can no longer keep up with demand. Insulin production decreases, which leads to high blood sugar.

The exact cause of type 2 diabetes is unknown. Contributing factors may include;

• Genetics
• Lack of exercise
• Being overweight

Gestational diabetes

It is due to insulin-blocking hormones produced during pregnancy. This type of diabetes ONLY occurs during pregnancy.

With the Standard Operation Procedures(SOPs) put in place all over the world due to the pandemic, Uganda isn’t any different and as people are turning away from the public and enclosed in their homes it is important to not forget the diabetic patients of the country.

This technology is very important and useful and the need for it to be cheaply available and accessible is of great importance. Diabetic awareness is one that Ugandans need to be conversant about and the fact that it can be more of a genetic problem than a type of lifestyle is something we all need to be knowledgeable about.

Having daily physical exercises is of great importance and on the right part in making sure we eradicate diabetes. As we self isolate during this pandemic it is vital for us to keep fit and healthy at all times and as we try to avoid the Coronavirus we might actually help ourselves in preventing diabetes.

With diabetes being genetically related, it’s important to always be on the safe side and not ignorant. For those who are suffering from the disease then a glucometer is a Must-have device in order to keep track of your blood sugar levels. This device can be used by more than one person and therefore each household can have. As East Africa is growing it is also important to take care of our health issues and prioritizing them.

So my advice goes to diabetic patients, if you do not have a glucometer then get one as soon as possible and for the rest, it’s also important to know your blood sugar levels.

As it is said in medicine, Prevention is better than cure!!!