Diabetes Glucose Levels
Can you check glucose levels without taking a blood test?
The short answer to this question is: Not reliably. Blood glucose levels are by far the most accurate test available so it is going to be a while before the entire needle stick thing is done away with forever. In fact, even if a new test is developed it would be unlikely that the blood test would be permanently eliminated. It is just that good.
When you eat, believe it or not very little of your food is absorbed in the stomach. The stomach serves as a storage tank and a place where food is really ground up. Most of the food you eat is absorbed in the small intestine. Because of this, the small intestine receives an enormous supply of blood. From here, the blood travels through the liver to the heart and then to the rest of the body.
Food is broken down to very small, individual pieces or molecules for easy absorption. Some of these molecules are sugar molecules. Glucose is one of the more common molecules to be absorbed. So, glucose is readily absorbed into the blood and travels to all areas of the body. Furthermore, it is this molecule that insulin helps get absorbed into cells. Because of it’s rapid absorption, widespread distribution, and involvement in insulin, blood glucose is naturally the best test of glucose levels.
Can you check glucose levels without taking a blood test?
Some new tests are being trialled though with mixed results. A test called the transcutaneous skin test is being developed. This somehow takes a glucose reading through the skin. Unfortunately it is so unreliable that it can’t be released to market yet.
Now you’re probably wondering whether we can use what was left in the cup. Sorry, no can do. This only gives an indication that the kidney is being overloaded with glucose. Everyone’s kidney function is different so there would be no way to tell glucose levels by measuring it in the urine.
Looks like you’re stuck getting stuck for now!
