Home Glucose Monitoring Systems

Programs that pay for or provide equipment and accessories that allow individuals with diabetes to monitor their blood sugar levels in the privacy of their own homes as a means of analyzing and controlling their disease. Included are subcutaneous glucose monitoring systems which implant a subcutaneous sensor that records blood sugar levels at regular intervals over a multi-day period which is analyzed by a computer following the test period; systems that employ meters and test strips which measure the blood sugar levels using a drop of blood extracted by pricking a finger; wrist devices which use small electric currents to extract fluid from the skin, measure its glucose content and sound an alarm if blood sugar reaches levels that are dangerously high or low; and tests which measure the amount of glucose in the urine. Patients are encouraged to use the latter method several times a day.