EasyTouch blood glucose monitoring systems, test strips and control solution

blood glucose monitoring system

How an EasyTouch blood glucose monitoring system works

A blood glucose monitoring system has three parts that must agree: the meter, the test strips and the control solution. You prick a fingertip or an alternate site with a lancet, touch the drop to the end of a strip, and the meter measures the glucose in that small sample of blood and shows the result in about five seconds. EasyTouch makes three blood glucose meters, and each one is calibrated to its own strips, which is why EasyTouch strips work only in the EasyTouch meter, HealthPro strips only in HealthPro, and BluLink strips only in BluLink.

The EasyTouch glucose meter is the original: code-free, a 300-reading memory with 7, 14 and 30-day averages, alarm settings and alternate site testing from the palm or forearm. HealthPro adds a backlit display for testing in low light and a built-in strip ejector, with 365 readings in memory. BluLink is the connected meter: it needs only 0.5 microliter of blood, stores 500 results and syncs every reading over Bluetooth to the free BluLink app, so you and your family can see glucose levels and trends on a phone.

Control solution is how you check the system. Each kit uses a high and a low solution; run one drop on a strip as you would a blood sample, and the meter reading should fall within the range printed on your strip vial. Do it when you open a new vial, after the meter is dropped or left in a hot car, and whenever a result does not match how you feel. Store strips in the closed vial at room temperature, and write the opening date on the label.

Testing tips for accurate glucose results

Wash and dry your hands before testing; sugar on the skin from food can raise a reading. If you use an alcohol prep pad, let the site dry first. Alternate site testing on the palm or forearm is gentler on fingertips, but glucose levels there can lag when blood sugar is changing fast, so test on the fingertip after meals, exercise or insulin, or whenever you feel low.

A meter is a tool for your own monitoring, not a diagnosis. Talk with your healthcare provider about how often to check, what your target range should be, and whether a continuous glucose monitoring device suits you. Many people with a CGM still keep a meter and strips for calibration checks and for confirming readings.

Accuracy, care and your healthcare provider

Blood glucose monitoring helps people with diabetes manage blood sugar day to day, see how food, activity and insulin affect glucose levels, and spot a low before it becomes a problem. How often you check, and what your target range is, depends on your treatment, so consult your healthcare provider or a certified diabetes educator for personalized advice.

Accuracy depends on using the system properly: a compatible strip for your meter, strips stored as the instructions say, a clean dry fingertip and a control solution check with every new vial. Consider keeping a logbook or using the BluLink app so your provider can review your data at appointments and make adjustments to your care.

Many people now use a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensor or an insulin pump. A blood glucose meter is still a useful set of tools alongside CGMs: to confirm a reading when symptoms do not match the sensor, to calibrate where a device asks for it, and as a backup if a sensor fails. Check with your insurance plan about coverage for meters, test strips and CGM supplies.

Which EasyTouch blood glucose monitoring system is right for you?

Choose the EasyTouch meter for simple, low-cost testing; HealthPro for a backlit display and strip ejector; BluLink if you want your health data on your phone. All three give results in seconds from a small blood sample, and each design keeps the experience the same: insert a strip, apply the drop, read the number.