Glucometer

A glucometer is a small, portable, battery-operated digital meter used to give a quick approximate reading of blood glucose (blood sugar) level. To use it, a small drop of blood is drawn from a finger-prick and placed on a disposable test strip inserted into the meter; the device reads the sample - most designs work either by an electrochemical reaction on the strip or by measuring how the strip's colour changes (colour reflectance) - and displays the glucose level in mg/dL within about 40 seconds. Its main practical advantages are that it is handy and portable enough for home use, and that it gives an almost immediate result without needing a laboratory. Typical reference ranges quoted for blood glucose are: a normal fasting-independent value of about 70-100 mg/dL, a random blood sugar range of 80-120 mg/dL, a fasting blood sugar range of 70-110 mg/dL, and a post-prandial (after-meal) blood sugar range of 70-140 mg/dL; a glucometer reading well outside these bands is a signal to investigate further for conditions such as diabetes mellitus or h …