NEWS

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As diabetes continues to be one of the leading causes of death in the country, it has become imperative to religiously conduct blood glucose monitoring in the Philippines.

The Philippines is one of the Southeast Asian countries with the most number of diabetes cases. With the current population at over a hundred million today, there are 5 million individuals diagnosed with the diseases, with so many more undiagnosed individuals unaccounted for. 

The numbers and statistics set an alarming precedent as it indicates not only the prevalence of the disease but the gravity as well. Diabetes by itself is already a serious infirmity, but its related complications such as heart attacks, kidney and heart failures are fatal diseases that can potentially cause death. Unfortunately, diabetes has no known cure. To date, the disease can only be managed and treated with individuals afflicted from the disease encouraged to make lifestyle changes.

The first step to controlling diabetes is to have a clear understanding of what makes it such a dangerous disease. In this way, diabetes is better managed and regulated. In the same vein, individuals suffering from diabetes are not only strongly encouraged but required to do blood glucose monitoring regularly if they wish to control their disease. 

What is blood glucose monitoring? 

Blood glucose monitoring is one of the best ways to understand your diabetes and how various food, medications, and activities affect or react to your condition. Essentially, you and your healthcare provider can come up with a better plan to manage your diabetes if you religiously keep track of your blood glucose. 

With the use of a glucose meter (glucometer for brevity), a diabetic patient would then be tested for the concentration of glucose in their blood. The test is performed by piercing the skin (with a prick typically on the fingertip) to draw blood with a medical lancet device or other and then applying the blood to a chemically active disposable “test-strip.” 

Understanding glucose and diabetes 

Health complications occur when your bloodstream’s glucose bloodstream levels. The name assigned to the condition wherein the body has difficulty in managing blood glucose levels is diabetes. However, bear in mind that the body has two reasons why it struggles to maintain balance. As such, there are two types of diabetes. 

Type 1 Diabetes:

Individuals afflicted with type 1 diabetes are not able to produce enough insulin to balance out glucose spikes that occur in the bloodstream. More often than not, this is caused by the destruction of pancreatic cells where insulin is made by the immune system. As a result, it is much harder for the pancreas to produce insulin. 

Type 2 Diabetes:

On the other hand, individuals with type 2 diabetes do not have any difficulty in producing insulin. However, their cells do not respond to insulin as well as they should. As a result, there is an overproduction of insulin and eventually leads to an overworked or damaged pancreas. A damaged pancreas would be unable to meet the body’s demands for insulin eventually. 

Gestational Diabetes:

As can be inferred from the name, Gestational Diabetes occurs during pregnancy in some women. The bodies of pregnant women are focused on providing nutrition for the baby. However, because of this shift to preserve glucose for nourishment, their bodies can potentially become resistant to insulin. For some women, this may mean having the body release more insulin during pregnancy. Unfortunately, some women have pancreases that cannot keep up with the body’s demands during their pregnancy. That said, they suffer from various spikes in glucose during pregnancy (gestational diabetes). 

The importance of testing blood sugar

Your blood sugar is the single most important metric of determining how well you are managing your diabetes. Moreover, it provides useful information for diabetes management. It helps you monitor the efficacy of your diabetes medications on your blood sugar levels, track your progress in reaching treatment goals, identify blood sugar levels that are either high or low, understand how other factors (illness or stress) can affect your blood sugar levels and discover how diet and exercise can affect your blood sugar levels. 

By regularly checking your blood glucose levels, you can easily determine whether your blood sugar is either too high or too low. Both of which can cause potentially serious health problems. 

Keep in mind that a healthy range of blood glucose differs for everyone. Your healthcare provider will calculate the target range for your blood glucose depending on your type of diabetes, age, overall health, and other factors. Generally, blood glucose is commonly considered too high when it reaches above 130mg/dL right before a meal or 150mg/dL two hours after a meal. Alternatively, blood glucose is considered too low when it drops below 70mg/dL. That said, keeping your glucose levels within the target range is paramount. 

The risks of high or low blood glucose

Hyperglycemia (High blood glucose)

Typically, your blood glucose levels spike when you eat. These are then later normalized with insulin. Individuals suffering from diabetes, however, run the risk of having extended periods of high blood glucose (or hyperglycemia as medically referred). This can ultimately result in damage to the body. High blood glucose levels may cause damage to blood vessels and increases an individual’s risk for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Similarly, high blood glucose can also lead to kidney disease, nerve damage, and eye disease. 

Hypoglycemia (Low blood glucose)

Hypoglycemia happens when diabetic individuals skip meals, take too much medication, do not eat enough, or over-exhaust themselves. As a result, diabetic individuals suffering from hypoglycemia can lose consciousness, have seizures or go into a coma. This is why it needs attention immediately.

Individuals who are experiencing early signs of hypoglycemia should check their blood sugar to see if it is a medical emergency. Moreover, they are recommended to seek medical help immediately and eat easily digestible carbohydrates for the moment, such as soda, a few crackers, or a spoonful of sugar or honey. 

NAGASE’S Blood glucose monitoring device 

Unlike most conventional blood glucose monitoring devices such as glucometers, Nagase has developed a handheld device that is capable of multi-parameter monitoring. Named as the HumaSens2.0 plus, the multi-parameter monitoring device is pretty much a lab in your hand that allows for versatile monitoring. It measures glucose, total cholesterol, and uric acid and delivers results within 5-26 seconds. 

Why use NAGASE’s HumaSens2.0 plus? 

Apart from being a versatile medical device, Nagase’s HumaSens2.0 is easy to handle. It uses auto strip identification with an immediate and easy parameter switch. The device is also convenient to use with an asymmetric design that can be used with either hand. Plus, with only two buttons, a large character display, and clear display icons, HumaSens2.0 makes it easy for the user to get all the information they need from the device. 

The HumaSens2.0 also has a long-lasting battery delivering up to 1,000 results and a long shelf life for its test strips and control solution. 

Lastly, the device is reliable and safe, with its results comparable to those taken from the lab. It also comes with an adjustable penetration depth of the lancing device for the patient’s comfort. 

With Nagase’s HumaSens2.0 plus, you have a compelling device that helps you manage your diabetes and a range of other medical issues that conveniently fits inside your bags or pockets. 

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Posted on: May 11, 2021