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Glucose Test Strips Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart buying guide to glucose test strips
Regular monitoring of your blood sugar levels is a critical part of living well with diabetes. Knowing your numbers helps you make better dietary and lifestyle choices. Frequent testing also enables your doctor to monitor your health and determine if you need additional therapies. No matter how often you test your blood, glucose test strips are an important part of your diabetes treatment plan. Instacart makes it easy to get the glucose testing strips you need. Order your testing supplies online, and our shoppers will pick up and deliver your order in as little as 2 hours.
How glucose test strips work
Glucose test strips are thin, disposable strips used for testing blood sugar. Each testing strip contains an electric circuit made from a thin layer of gold. The tip of the test strip contains glucose oxidase, an enzyme that reacts with the sugar in your blood. Glucose oxidase pulls your blood into the strip and turns your blood sugar into electricity.
The electric signal travels through the strip to your blood sugar meter, aka glucometer. The number displayed by your meter is the speed of the electrical current. A high blood sugar level produces a stronger signal, faster current, and higher number on your meter.
How to use glucose test strips
The frequency of blood sugar testing varies from patient to patient. Some Type 2 Diabetes patients only have to test twice a day, while a Type 1 patient may have to test up to 10 times a day. Talk with your doctor about how often you need to test your blood sugar, and then follow these steps.
After use, dispose of test strips properly. Never reuse a test strip.
How to choose the right glucose test strips for you
Which glucose test strips are right for you depends on the glucometer you use. Test strips are specific to the blood sugar meter manufacturer. For instance, ReliOn testing meters use ReliOn brand testing strips. Talk to your health care professional to determine which testing system is best for you.
Getting the best results from your glucose test strips
Use the following tips to get the most accurate blood sugar readings with your test strips:
Glucose Test Strips Near Me
Buy your favorite Glucose Test Strips online with Instacart. Order Glucose Test Strips from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about glucose test strips
The high cost of brand-name glucose test strips leads many patients to consider generic options, as they are generally much less expensive. If you want to use a generic glucose test strip, read all of the packaging information to ensure that a specific test strip will work with your meter. Always talk to your healthcare provider before switching testing brands.
Temperature extremes, high moisture, and exposure to air can degrade testing strips. Keep your test strips in their original packaging, tightly sealed, until you are ready to use them. Close your test strip container immediately to prevent air from affecting the remaining strips. Store your strips in a cool, dry location. Don't store your test strips in a hot or cold car, a sunny window, or a humid bathroom.
Most doctors advise rotating between your fingers and using both sides of your fingers to test your blood sugar. Frequent testing in the same site can cause your fingertips to become dry, cracked, and calloused.
Most major private insurance companies cover the cost of testing strips. Medicare and Medicaid also cover many brands of testing strips. Before choosing a glucometer and test strips, check your insurance to ensure coverage of your brand of testing supplies.
Ketone testing is a common element of diabetic care, especially for patients with Type 1 Diabetes. Ketones are present in your urine when a shortage of insulin causes your body to break down fat instead of sugar. High levels of ketones can cause a dangerous condition known as Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA).
If your doctor has asked you to test for both ketones and glucose, you will need to buy 2 different kinds of meters and test strips. Glucose test strips use blood, while ketone test strips use urine. Use the correct testing strip in each meter to ensure the most accurate health data and avoid a medical emergency.