Blood Glucose Monitoring is an essential part of your diabetes care. Without feedback about where your blood sugar levels are, you are “flying blind” and will probably suffer the worst effects of diabetes due to lack of response to high and low glucose in the bloodstream.
This brief YouTube video is one of the best I’ve found to explain the reasons for testing and how to properly test your sugars.
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Accu-Chek Compass software is one part of Roche Diagnostics blood glucose management system. The other parts include an Accu-Chek meter, a cable and your desktop or laptop computer.
Measuring your blood sugar and writing it manually into a log book is better than doing nothing at all but what's really needed is visual feedback that creates meaningful information out of the jumble of readings that pile up in your meter. That's where glucose management software comes in.
With blood glucose management software like Accu-Chek Compass, you can display graphs and reports such as blood sugar trend, daily and weekly average readings, hypoglycemic reports, and target range reports.
You can also display and print a one page summary report with all this information and then share it with your endocrinologist or other diabetes care-givers.
What's more, you can automatically download all your readings to Accu-Chek Compass instead of entering them manually. Of course, to do this you need Accu-Chek's infrared or serial cable for your particular meter.
Continued...Accu-Chek Compass supports meter downloads for the following Accu-Chek meters:
Naturally, you can always enter readings manually for those times when it makes more sense, but the true value in the program (in my opinion) is that it allows you to free up some time by automating this task much of the time.
For example, when you're away from home and one go, all you need to do is take your readings which are then stored in your meter. When you get back home, you simply connect to the desktop and download your results. Quick and no need for any typing.
And if you have the infrared option on your meter, you can simply set it up and point your meter at the Accu-Chek infrared cable interface and download it wirelessly. Very handy if you have the Accu-Chek Compact or Aviva meters like I do.
I've used this software for a little more than a year now and find it very good.
I like the way it's organized and I particularly like the meter download for my Accu-Chek Compact Plus via wireless infrared. People who own Accu-Chek meters will like the fact that it handles multiple meters. This allows you to have a "Home" meter and a "Work" meter for example. All the readings are merged and seamless this way making it vary convenient.
Of particular use are the printed reports. The trend graph report will quickly tell you if your treatment is working or not. This is vital if you expect to make any progress with your diabetes treatment and get better.
The one-page summary report includes the trend graph, the average day graph and target range pie chart. This should be printed and shared with your diabetes professionals. It will help them to better see what is what is happening with your diabetes and adjust your medications as required. Dietary habits such as meal times can be adjusted as well.
For all of it's good points there are a few things that could be done better. For example:
Of course, I could go on and criticize other aspects of the Accu-Check Compass software but the fact is that this software does work very well for what it was intended to do. It's just a way to easily download readings and produce essential reports.
In a way, this is good because Compass will be easier to use for beginners who need a simple way to get into managing their blood sugar.
The price for Accu-Chek Compass is $29.95 at the time of this writing and you'll also need a meter cable or infrared cable in order to download meter readings.
For a complete overview and virtual tour of what's inside the software visit the:
Accu-Chek Compass Demo (*Requires Flash)
Bottom Line:
Rating: 6/10
Accu-Chek Compass glucose management software is a pretty good program for Accu-Chek users to get into the habit of tracking and managing their own blood sugar.
It effectively organizes the essential information the diabetic and health care professionals need in order to better understand the patient's blood sugar situation and adjust therapies as needed.
It's not without it's short-comings though, and in my opinion should only be considered for the novice diabetic. More advanced users will want more I'm sure.
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Diabetes is all about the interaction of glucose and insulin in your body. But what do you really know about these 2 important elements and how they function?
A better basic understanding will make diabetes treatment seem less mysterious and ultimately lead to better health.
Glucose:
Glucose is one of many types of sugars, but it happens to be the particular sugar found in your blood that provides instant energy. Sugar is a carbohydrate, one of the three sources of energy in your body,together with protein and fat.
Continued...Insulin:
Insulin is a chemical known as a hormone, meaning that it's made in an organ, which in this case is the pancreas, and carried around the body in the bloodstream. The function of insulin is to act as a key to the "door" in each cell of the body that opens to allow glucose in. However, not every cell requires insulin to get its glucose; some cells and organs take up glucose without using insulin. These include
--The brain
--Nerve fibres
--Red blood cells
--The retinas of the eyes
--The kidneys
--Blood vessels
The insulin-producing and insulin-storing pancreas cells, called B or beta cells, are found in groups called islets of Langerhans throughout the pancreas.
Other cells present in the islets of Langerhans include A cells, which produce glucagon, a hormone that's very important to patients with diabetes because it raises blood glucose when it gets too low; and D cells, which make somatostatin, a hormone that blocks the secretion of other hormones but doesn't have a use in diabetes because it causes high blood glucose.
In people who don't have diabetes, the presence of insulin helps control the conversion of glucose into energy in the body. People with diabetes, however, experience triggering events that lead to a lack of insulin in the body, which in turn leads to having uncontrolled glucose.
Conclusion:
Glucose and insulin need to be balanced in order to avoid diabetic complications and achieve optimal health. Frequent testing with a reliable glucose meter and inexpensive glucose test strips will help you to monitor your blood sugar and adjust your insulin doses to match the changing demands of your body.
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High blood glucose levels in the morning can really throw your diabetes therapy off track and there's good cause to be concerned. If you sleep for eight hours with high levels of blood sugar, then for at least one third of your life, diabetes will cause damage to your system. This is clearly unacceptable for the concerned patient and care-giver.
Morning levels are susceptible to being high and may seem uncontrollable. However, more often than not, it's that most of us fail to understand why morning sugars can become high.
In order to help you get better control over diabetes, here are 3 reasons that blood sugars can measure high at rise-time.
Continued...Reason # 1
During sleep, your blood sugar may decrease as a result of the amount of insulin you took that day, and the hormones, such as glucagon, that raise blood glucose may be secreted, resulting in high blood glucose in the morning. This action is called the Somogyi effect which is named after the doctor who first described it.
Some mornings, your blood glucose may be low if it didn't get low enough to trigger hormone secretion, whereas other mornings it may be high.
If you fail to understand that the main trigger is actually too much insulin and not too little, you may increase your insulin and make the situation worse.
Before increasing insulin at bedtime, do a blood glucose test in the middle of the night. If the level is low, you're in all probability experiencing the Somogyi effect, and you should decrease, NOT increase, the amount of long-acting insulin you give inject at bedtime.
Reason # 2
Another trigger of high blood glucose may be the "dawn phenomenon" which is caused by secretion of too much growth hormone during the night. By morning, it will raise your blood glucose to high levels. If your morning blood sugar levels are consistently high, nighttime long-acting insulin usually takes care of this problem and provides more normal morning blood glucose readings.
Reason # 3
Another possible reason for a morning high, not related to either of the previously mentioned circumstances, is that the insulin used at bedtime did not work long enough to keep the blood glucose from rising overnight. Older forms of insulin such as NPH tend to fall short in this manner, whereas newer long-acting insulin like Glargine and Detemir don't.
Conclusion:
High blood glucose levels in the morning must be avoided if you want to diminish detrimental effects and improve overall glucose control. Consider the 3 reasons given here to determine which of them may be giving you a problem, then take corrective action based on your findings.
Accurate blood glucose measurement is at the heart of any good diabetes management therapy.
As the video above shows, using your glucose meter correctly will ensure accurate blood glucose measurement.
Home testing units are roughly accurate to within 15-20 percent, but the FDA does does not require ANY level of accuracy in order for a glucose meter to be approved for home use. This margin is acceptable for everyday use since, dosage of insulin will not vary that much within this range.
However, it's clear that you must rely on HbA1C tests as the true measurement of the success of your diabetes program. No matter which meter you choose or how you test, you should never rely on home tests to completely guide your overall course of action.
There are many variables that can affect the accuracy of your readings including, temperature, altitude, time of testing, testing site, meter choice and freshness of test strips.
Here are the most important factors affecting performance.
Continued...Hematocrit:
Hematocrit is the measure of red blood cells in the blood. Patients with higher hematocrit values will generally test lower for blood glucose than patients with normal hematocrit. Patients with lower hematocrit values will test higher. If you know that you have abnormal hematocrit values you should talk over its possible effect on glucose testing (and A1C testing) with your health professional. Anemia and Sickle Cell Anemia are two conditions that bear upon hematocrit values.
Other Substances:
Numerous other substances may interfere with your testing process. These include uric acid (a natural substance in the body that can be denser in some people with diabetes), glutathione (an "anti-oxidant" also called "GSH"), and ascorbic acid (vitamin C). You should check the package insert for each meter to find what substances might affect its testing accuracy, and discuss your concerns with your diabetes caregiver.
Altitude, Temperature, and Humidity:
Altitude, room temperature, and humidity can cause irregular effects on glucose results. Check the meter and test strip box insert for information on these issues. Store and handle the meter and test strips according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Third-Party Test Strips:
Third-party or "generic glucose reagent strips" are test strips produced as a less expensive option than the strips that the original maker intended the meter to be used with. They're commonly developed by replicating the original strips.
While these strips may work on the meter listed on the package, they could look like strips used for other meters. Make certain the test strip you use is correctly matched with your glucose meter.
Occasionally manufacturers modify their meters and their test strips. These alterations are not always conveyed to the third-party strip manufacturers. This can make third-party strips incompatible with your meter without your knowledge. Differences can involve the amount, type or concentration of the chemicals (called "reagents") on the test strip, or the actual size and shape of the strip itself. Meters are responsive to these features of test strips and may not work well or consistently if they're not correct for a meter. If you're doubtful whether or not a certain test strip will work with your meter, contact the manufacturer of your glucose meter.
Performance Goals for Glucose Meters
Deciding performance criteria for glucose meters has been debatable and difficult. Despite efforts in the late 1970s and 1980s by both FDA and CDC, no universally recognised standards or testing methods have been formulated for the measurement of glucose. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recently held a standards conference and is researching the possibility of developing a standard reference material for whole blood.
The ADA has recommended accuracy goals twice over the past twenty years, once in 1986 (target accuracy of +/- 15%) and once in 1993 (target accuracy of +/- 5%) No company that manufactures glucose meters has developed a cost-efficient system to meet these goals. A number of alternative standards have been suggested by national standards organizations in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. An international standard ISO DIS 15197 is currently under development that recommends accuracy of +/- 20 mg/dl (1.11 mmol/l) for glucose values under 100 mg/dl (5.56 mmol/l) and +/- 20% for higher glucose values.
While information on glucose meters continues to show varying performance, the newest generations of meters are less complicated to use and more precise than older models. Improvements in the chemical, mechanical, and software components of glucose meters are continuing to help with the management of diabetes.
Conclusion:
Accurate blood glucose measurement is best achieved by testing yourself in the correct manner. These tests are adequate for day to day therapy but should not be relied upon as the ultimate measure of the success of your diabetes program.
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This glucose meter comparison chart will help you select the meter that's best for you.
You can compare the FreeStyle, Precision Xtra, Contour, TrueTrack, OneTouch and Accu-Chek line of meters. Click on links for individual meters to read my review and rating.
| Manufacturer | Abbott Diabetes Care Inc. | Abbott Diabetes Care Inc. | Abbott Diabetes Care Inc. |
| Meter | FreeStyle Freedom | FreeStyle Flash | Precision Xtra |
| Technology | Coulometry | Coulometry | Electro chemical |
| Battery | 3-volt Li CR 2032 (1) | 3-volt Li CR 2032 (1) | AAA (2) |
| Strips | Freestyle 50s & 100s | Freestyle 50s & 100s | Precision Xtra 50s & 100s |
| Testing Time/ Sample Size | 5 sec/0.3 uL | 7 sec/0.3 uL | 5 sec/0.6 uL |
| Alternate Site Testing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cleaning Required | No | No | No |
| Meter Calibration | Manual | Manual | Automatic—Smart Chip |
| Download Capability/ Memory | Yes/250 | Yes/250 | Yes/450 |
| Software | Precision Link 2.6 | Precision Link 2.6 | Precision Link 2.6 |
| Strip Shelf-Life (after opening) | Date on vial | Date on vial | Date on foil packet |
| Features | Virtually pain-free testing. Largest numeric display of any leading meter makes it easy to read. Ergonomic design makes it easy to hold. 4 programmable alarms. 14-day result average. 60-second sample reapplication time. | Backlit display. 4 daily alarms. Free data cable via mail-in offer. Unaffected by differences in oxygen or high levels of interfering substances. Can fill strip from either side. Can reapply sample for up to 60 seconds. | True Measure Technology. Blood glucose and blood ketone testing. Simple, easy-to-use, easy-to-read meter. New Smart Chip calibration, 5-second blood reapplication time. Strip technology designed to minimize effects on common interfering substances. |
| Contact Info/Support | 1-888-522-5226 24h/7d/week Spanish | 1-888-522-5226 24h/7d/week Spanish | 1-800-527-3339 24h/7d/week 140-plus languages |
| Manufacturer | Bayer | Bayer | Home Diagnostics |
| Meter | Breeze 2 | Contour | TrueTrack Smart System |
| Technology | Electro chemical | Electro chemical | Biosensor |
| Battery | 3-volt Li (1) | 3-volt Li (2) | CR 2032 (1) |
| Strips | Breeze 2 50s & 100s (Ascensia Autodisc will work in Breeze 2 meter) | Contour 50s & 100s (Ascensia MICROFILL will work in CONTOUR meter) | True Track 50s & 100s |
| Testing Time/ Sample Size | 5 sec countdown/1 uL | 5 sec/ 0.6 uL | 10 sec/1 uL |
| Alternate Site Testing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cleaning Required | No | No | No |
| Meter Calibration | Automatic | Automatic | Check strip |
| Download Capability/ Memory | Yes/420 | Yes/480 | Yes/365 |
| Software | WinGLUCOFACTS | WinGLUCOFACTS | thesmartchoice.com |
| Strip Shelf-Life (after opening) | Date on foil packet | 6 months | 3 months |
| Features | No coding required. Automatically draws blood into strips. Automatic underfill detection. 10-test disc. No individual test strip holding. Received Ease-of-Use Commendation from the Arthritis Foundation. Breeze 2 test strips will only work with Breeze 2 meter. | No coding required. Quick & easy pre/post meal test markings with post-meal test reminder alarm. Automatic hematocrit correction, underfill detection, control marking & temperature control ensure accuracy. 7-day Hi/Lo Test Result summary. | Chip coding capillary action. Audible test strip fill detection. |
| Contact Info/Support | 1-800-348-8100 24h/7d/week Spanish | 1-800-348-8100 24h/7d/week Spanish | 1-800-342-7226 24h/7d/week Spanish |
| Manufacturer | Home Diagnostics | Home Diagnostics | LifeScan, Inc. |
| Meter | Sidekick | Prestige | OneTouch® Ultra®2 |
| Technology | Electro chemical | Reflectance | Biosensor |
| Battery | Built into meter and never needs to be changed | AAA | 3-volt Li CR2032 (2) |
| Strips | Comes with 50 TrueTrack test strips | Prestige 50s & 100s | OneTouch® Ultra® 25s, 50s & 100s |
| Testing Time/ Sample Size | 5 sec/1 uL | 10-50 sec/4 uL | 5 sec/1 uL |
| Alternate Site Testing | Yes | No | Yes |
| Cleaning Required | No | Yes | No |
| Meter Calibration | Automatic | Check strip | Check strip |
| Download Capability/ Memory | No | Yes/365 | Yes/500 |
| Software | No | www.thesmartchoice.com | OneTouch® Diabetes Management Software (DMS) |
| Strip Shelf-Life (after opening) | 120 days | 3 months | 3 months |
| Features | Disposable after 50 tests. Vial of 50 test strips with built-in meter. Great second meter for the gym, work, school, babysitters, etc. | Easy-to-read screen. Large easy-to-handle test strips. | Meter can flag results as before or after meal. Flagged results are automatically stored as before- or after-meal averages. Includes Simple Start™ Diabetes + Food 20-minute DVD and booklet. |
| Contact Info/Support | 1-800-342-7226 24h/7d/week Spanish | 1-866-IQ METER or 1-800-342-7226 24h/7d/week Spanish | 1-800-227-8862 24h/7d/week Spanish 1-800-381-7226 |
| Manufacturer | Lifescan, Inc. | Lifescan, Inc. | Lifescan, Inc. |
| Meter | OneTouch® Ultra® | OneTouch® UltraSmart® | OneTouch® UltraMini® |
| Technology | Electro chemical | Electro chemical | Electro chemical |
| Battery | 3-volt Li | AAA (2) | 3-volt Li CR 2032 (1) |
| Strips | OneTouch® Ultra® 25s, 50s & 100s | OneTouch® Ultra® 25s, 50s & 100s | OneTouch® Ultra® 25s, 50s & 100s |
| Testing Time/ Sample Size | 5 sec/1 uL | 5 sec/1 uL | 5 sec/1 uL |
| Alternate Site Testing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cleaning Required | No | No | No |
| Meter Calibration | Check strip | Check strip | Check strip |
| Download Capability/ Memory | Yes/150 | Yes/>3000 | No/50 |
| Software | OneTouch® Diabetes Management Software (DMS) | OneTouch® Diabetes Management Software (DMS) | N/A |
| Strip Shelf-Life (after opening) | 3 months | 3 months | 3 months |
| Features | Easy-to-read screen. Small meter size. Fast test time. Includes Simple Start™ educational booklet. | Input daily activities. Chart, graph and track trends. Meter size is small. Automatically organizes before- and after-meal results. Backlight. Fast test time. Includes Simple Start™ Diabetes + Insulin educational booklet. | Small, lightweight, and easy to handle. Large, easy-to-read display and fast test time. Simple three-step testing. Includes Simple Start™ educational booklet. |
| Contact Info/Support | 1-800-227-8862 24h/7d/week Spanish: 1-800-381-7226 | 1-800-227-8862 24h/7d/week Spanish: 1-800-381-7226 | 1-800-227-8862 24h/7d/week Spanish: 1-800-381-7226 |
| Manufacturer | Roche | Roche | Roche |
| Meter | Accu-Chek Aviva | Accu-Chek Advantage | Accu-Chek Compact Plus |
| Technology | Electro chemical | Electro chemical | Reflectance |
| Battery | 3-volt Li (1) CR2032 | 3-volt Li (3) CR2032 | AAA (2) |
| Strips | Accu-Chek Aviva 50s & 100s | Accu-Chek Comfort Curve 50s & 100s | Accu-Chek Compact Drums 51s & 102s |
| Testing Time/ Sample Size | 5 sec/0.6 uL | 25 sec/4-10 uL | 5 sec/1.5 uL |
| Alternate Site Testing | Yes | No | Yes |
| Cleaning Required | No | No | Yes |
| Meter Calibration | Code Key | Code Key | Automatic |
| Download Capability/ Memory | Yes/500 | Yes/480 | Yes/300 |
| Software | Compass/ Camit Pro | Compass/ Camit Pro | Compass/ Camit Pro |
| Strip Shelf-Life (after opening) | Date on vial | Date on vial | Date on vial |
| Features | Wide-mouth test strips for easier blood application. Touchable test strip. Preset time and date with battery back-up. Comes with Accu-Chek Multiclix Lancing Device. | Curved strip guides finger to target area for easier blood application. Bold, easy-to-read display. Easily used by the patient with visual or dexterity issues. | All-in-one convenience with no strip handling. The one with the drum. Simple to use for the patient with physical or dexterity issues. No coding. Lancet device can be attached or detached from meter. |
| Contact Info/Support | 1-800-858-8072 24h/7d/week Many languages | 1-800-858-8072 24h/7d/week Many languages | 1-800-858-8072 24h/7d/ week Many languages |
Save 30 to 70 percent on test strips available from StripsForLess.com
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Blood sugar testing is essential for all people with diabetes because blood sugar level can't be precisely determined by symptoms alone. This applies equally to both Type 1 and Type II diabetes.
For patients who take insulin, self-testing provides more exact dosage adjustments. There's no prescribed recommendation for testing frequency for those with type 2 diabetes who are on oral medication or who control their diabetes through diet and exercise only. However, the American Diabetes Association does state that self-monitoring of blood sugar may be advantageous in order to achieve blood glucose targets.
Regular blood sugar testing can help you:
For diabetics to properly check their blood glucose levels, they'll require the following supplies and equipment:
1. A glucose meter
2. Alcohol pads
3. Sterile finger lancets
4. Sterile test strips
At this time, glucose meters supply the whole set of tools for the diabetic to use. Different glucose meters have various prices and capabilities.
If in doubt, it's advisable for the diabetic to check with his or her doctor who can recommend a specific type and brand for the diabetic's use.
Different models of glucose meters cater to the unique needs of individual patients. Some are smaller and more portable, have more memory, etc.
But be aware that every added feature comes with an additional price tacked onto it. A physician can help you decide which meter is perfect for you.
Before actually taking a self-test, the diabetic MUST follow these 5 essential steps:
1. Wash your hands carefully and completely with soap and water.
2. Wipe the area to be pricked with an alcohol swab
3. Using a fresh, sterile lancet, prick the finger-tip
4. Position a droplet of blood onto the tip of the sterile test strip
5. Follow the glucose meter instructions carefully to ensure proper testing and checking.
It's beneficial for the diabetic patient to keep a notebook or a log to monitor his or her glucose levels at varied times of the day or week. The minimum number of times per day you test should be provided to you by your doctor. Blood sugar testing can be a dreadful experience for the diabetic to undergo due to the pricking involved.
Follow these tips to make the pricking more pain-free:
1. Don't prick the tip of the finger. Fingertips are sensitive by nature, so this is really painful. Instead, prick the side of the finger. Another thing to consider... only prick fingers. Never prick your toes. Not only is this awkward, but it will also increase the likelihood of infection.
2. Don't ever squeeze your fingers if the blood refused to come out. Let the blood come out naturally. If it does not, let gravity do its work. Never force the issue. Ask your doctor what you can do to encourage sufficient blood flow.
3. Don't prick the same digit every time. This will stress the area out making that particular finger tender and sore
4. Don't use the same finger lancet again and again. This is unsanitary and unbelievably idiotic. Bacteria have already concentrated in the expended lancet. Recycling the same lancet promotes infection.
Additionally, keep your testing supplies at room temperature and check the expiration date of your testing supplies to ensure that your test strips remain accurate.
Remember that artificially influencing readings by exercising more just before taking a reading will just create inaccurate results that will eventually undermine your treatment and cause you to lose your health due to lack of overall control. Don't play games with your health. Blindness and amputation is waiting for you if you do.
Conclusion:
Research studies indicate that daily blood sugar testing, up to 4 times or more, is a good way to learn how to better control your blood glucose and the only way to measure the effectiveness of your meal plan, physical activity and medications.
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