Blood Glucose Monitor Components

In this article we will take a look at the various components which make up a blood glucose testing kit such as the Ascensia Breeze from Bayer. We will be taking a closer look at such items as the lancing device, the lancet and the test strips. All these components are essential for anyone suffering from diabetes who would like to be aware of what their blood glucose levels are.

1. Lancing Device

This is also known as the finger prick device and it is used in order to make a small hole in the skin (usually on the tip of a person's finger) so that a drop of blood appears. It is this drop of blood which the blood glucose meter will then analyze. Some models do come with lancing device and others do not so it is wise to shop around for one which you would prefer to use. These devices are also adjustable which means that you can control just how deeply it goes into your skin.

2. Lancet

3. Test Strips

It is on these that you place your blood sample and then it is inserted in to the blood glucose meter in order that an analysis can be carried. These are either sold in vials or they may come in individual foil wrappers. But with the Ascensia Breeze system you are provided with ten strips together so if you want you can carry out 10 tests at once without having to take out several test strips at a time.

All test strips are coated with a chemical which allows the meter to analyze the levels of glucose in your blood sample. But be warned the actual amount of chemical to be found on these strips can vary from batch to batch. It is therefore important that you recalibrate your machine each time you buy a new set of test strips. When you get the new test strips you will find instructions enclosed within on how to recalibrate your blood glucose monitor and there are some machines such as the Ascensia Breeze from Bayer which can recalibrate themselves. Normally to recalibrate your monitor all you need to do is change the code number or insert a chip code into it.