When someone has diabetes, they essentially are having a problem where their body is unable to produce enough insulin and they need to monitor and control their sugars themselves. Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes are the two different types of diabetes that will be found in people. Diabetics with Type 1 Diabetes control their sugars entirely by giving injections of Insulin. A person with Type 2 Diabetes may also need to use insulin injections if their blood sugar levels go out of control, but normally they will control their sugars by diet and pills. A doctor will properly diagnose which type of diabetes you have and how you should control it.

Controlling blood sugar levels is definately something that needs to be done by a person with diabetes. A diabetic monitors their blood sugars with a glucose meter that tells them how high or low their sugar might be. Work coverage may help you get a free glucometer if you cannot afford to buy it yourself after finding out you have diabetes. To use the glucose meter, the person testing their sugar levels will use a lancet device to prick one of their fingers. A lancet device is essentially a small needle ready to pierce the skin slightly to draw blood. The drop of blood would be put onto a blood strip that has been put into their glucose meter. Depending on the meter, the length of time may differ, but generally in five seconds up to one minute you will get a reading of sugar levels.

The glucose meter is essential for a diabetic to own so they can test regularly. If you don't test your blood sugars, problems can occur if an incorrect dosage of their medication is given including low sugars and seizures. Compared to a decade ago, the price of blood glucose meters has gone down and are easier to pay for. Some companies when you buy a set amount of test strips will give you a free glucometer to be used with your purchased strips. Since many manufacturers make most of the money from the strips purchase, you get that added incentive of a free monitor to be used with their strips. Some more information for finding a free glucometer can be found at http://www.freeglucometer.info/.