Diabetes Control Solution

If you happen to have diabetes, keeping your blood sugar under control is important. This is why you use a diabetic monitor to keep track of your blood sugar. Along with the monitor, it is important that you use diabetes control solution as well. However, many people are not aware of what these solutions are, how they work, and why they should be used. Here's a closer look at these diabetes control solutions and how you can use them to help keep your diabetes well under control.

What is It?

First of all, you may be wondering what exactly diabetes control solution is. Well, when you use strips sometimes the chemical on them is not as effective and readings can end up looking wrong to you. Instead of trying your own blood again, you can use the solution on the strip to see if there is a problem. Essentially these diabetes control solutions are sugar water. It comes in a little vial and usually comes along with your monitor. While some people think it is for cleaning, this is not the case.

When are You Supposed to Use It?

Wondering when to use the solution? Well, this should be used on strips that you just open. This way you can make sure that the strips are good. Also, if you have a bottle of the testing strips that has been open for some time, it's a good idea to use the diabetes control solution to test them to make sure that the chemical on them is still working the way that it should.

Using the Solution.

So, how do you use control solutions? It's actually fairly easy to do. You perform the test with the solution the very same way that you would test your own blood. Place the strip into the meter, then put a tiny drop of the diabetes control solution onto your finger and touch the strip to the solution so that it sucks in the solution. After it does the count down, it will give you a number. On the back of your strips, you'll see a number which is usually between 120 and 198. This will let you know the range that the number should be in. If it is within range, then your strips are fine. If it is higher or lower than the range on the strips, then there is probably a problem with those strips and you should not use them.

As long as you don't open the diabetes control solution, it will last for a year and it probably has an expiration date on it to let you know when it is outdated. However, if you decide to open and use the solution, it will only be good for 3 months after you open it. So, if you go beyond that, make sure that you get a new bottle to use so that you don't get false readings from outdated solution.