Microdot Blood Glucose Monitors have been trusted by patients and healthcare professionals across the world since 2007. Manufactured in the UK at our premises in Cambridgeshire, England, our blood glucose test strips are now available throughout Europe, North America and Africa.

Do you have Diabetes?

Diabetes is often undiagnosed, indeed over 7 million people in the UK are thought to be in danger of developing the disease. If you think you may have diabetes you should consult your doctor to arrange a blood test. You can also investigate your blood sugar levels with a blood testing kit, such as Microdot+ which contains all the items needed to perform 10 blood glucose tests. However, should you decide to do this, you should always consult your doctor as well to obtain a professional opinion.

Generally, if you decide to investigate your blood sugar levels we would suggest that your measure your blood sugar level before breakfast (i.e. before eating). If you obtain readings above 7.0 mmol/L you may have diabetes and we would suggest you consult your doctor for further advice. If you level is between 5.5 mmol/L and 7.0 mmol/L you may be in danger of developing diabetes. Again you should consult your doctor.

The full WHO guidelines are given below on the diagnosis of diabetes.

Diabetes symptoms (e.g. excessive thirst, frequent urination, and unexplained weight loss for Type 1) plus:

• a random venous plasma glucose concentration ≥ 11.1 mmol/l or
• a fasting (e.g. before breakfast) plasma glucose concentration ≥ 7.0 mmol/l or
• two hour plasma glucose concentration ≥ 11.1 mmol/l two hours after 75g anhydrous glucose in an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

With no symptoms diagnosis should not be based on a single glucose determination but requires confirmatory plasma venous determination. At least one additional glucose test result on another day with a value in the diabetic range is essential, either fasting, from a random sample or from the two hour post glucose load. If the fasting random values are not diagnostic the two hour value should be used.

Gestational diabetes

All people in the UK are screened for diabetes during pregnancy (gestation). The criteria for diagnosing gestational diabetes is different. Gestational diabetes should be diagnosed if the woman has either:

• a fasting plasma glucose level of 5.6mmol/l or above or
• a 2-hour plasma glucose level of 7.8mmol/l or above.

For further information please consult your doctor, nurse or Diabetes UK, the leading diabetes charity in the UK.