Even if test strips look like a mere piece of plastic, they are incredibly sensitive and scientifically complex. Because of this, one might be tempted to continue using a bottle of strips even if it has expired. Test Strip AccuracyĪt a glance, a glucose test strip may not seem complicated. This will result in it becoming less effective. Even if the test strips are kept in an optimal environment, the enzyme will still age. By doing this, you can be sure that you’re taking all the necessary steps to preserve your test strips and be confident in the results they give you. It’s best to read the instructions that come with your test strips and note what temperature they should be stored at. While manufacturer instructions may seem tedious, they’re put in place to ensure that the enzyme and other materials are as useful as possible for as long as possible. One of the biggest things that impacts enzymes is temperature. Then the glucose meter sends a current of electricity through the mixture of blood and enzyme and is able to gain a reading based on the electrical resistance. While the enzyme is very accurate most of the time, it can become less stable with age or with poor storage conditions like excessive heat or cold, or high humidity. This is one of the many reasons why you should only use test strips that haven’t expired, to make sure the enzyme is doing its job effectively.Įnzymes need to be cared for in a certain way. Once the blood has been absorbed, it travels down the strip and combines with an enzyme. Glucose strips are inserted into glucose meters, and absorb the blood sample you apply after you lance your fingertip.
Let’s go through how glucose test strips work to help frame the importance of not using expired test strips. If you’re worried about checking your blood sugar, know that there are supplies that aid in the process, and you’ll learn the best way to do it through practice and experience. Glucose test strips are an essential part of at home testing.
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This is how to monitor your blood sugar levels and gain the information needed to assess your body’s reaction to certain variables and to self-regulate. If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, you should be checking your blood sugar regularly. We’ll be talking about this more later but first, can you ever use expired test strips and do they still hold any sort of accuracy? Why Test Strips Expire This can be done at an affordable price with Diathrive’s Build Your Own Plan option. You can be sure that you always have the supplies you need by having them delivered to your door. If your stockpile has been sitting for too long or you’re not testing as often as you had originally anticipated, your test strips may have expired. You should always check your test strips and their expiration date before use. When reporting your levels to your doctor, it’s important that you can rely on the data you’ve been collecting. Using expired test strips can skew your perception of your blood sugar levels and lead you to make decisions based on inaccurate information. The only way to know your supplies are reliable is to buy them from a trusted source and check for expiration dates. Making sure that all of your readings are as accurate as possible is vital in being able to trust the numbers. This can be dangerous, especially if you make treatment decisions based on an inaccurate number. If you’re using test strips that are expired, they will likely give you an inaccurate reading. One of the most important aspects of checking your blood sugar levels is ensuring that all of your supplies are up to date. Learn our recommendations to keep you safe and healthy.Ĭhecking your blood sugar should be done regularly and always with the appropriate supplies. Using expired test strips can affect the accuracy of your results.
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