A glucose meter is a small hand held device that is used for determining the approximate concentration of glucose in the body, also known as a blood sugar meter. Electric glucose meters have replaced glucose strips. Glucose strips were little pieces of special paper that you would apply your blood to then wait for the paper to change a certain color so you could tell the range of your blood sugar. Now we have electric meters to do it much faster. A glucose meter ranges from $20-$100+.

Glucose meters are most likely to be used by a diabetic who isn’t sure how high or low their blood sugar is. There are two types of diabetics: type 1 and type 2. Type one diabetics test atleast 4 or more times a day while type 2 diabetics test less frequently. In some cases, nurses and doctors will use a glucose meter on a patient if nessaceary. To properly use a glucose meter to check your blood sugar you will need to: first, wash your hands with soap and water. Then you will prepare your blood lancet and prick your finger. Afterwards you gather the blood into a blood strip; the meter should tell you your glucose level within seconds. They’re other types of meters that can use blood from other parts of your body, but the process will be the same.

The dangers of using this device are very minimal. As long as you don’t use an old lancet and wash before and after you break skin then you should be fine. The limitations of this technology are that your glucose level won’t be so accurate as it