Cant i check myself for diabetes with a glucometer?

cant i just check myself for diabetes first before going to the doctors??? i heard you could yet my mom insists that there is no point if im going to the doctor in a day or 2 anyway but i just really want to know because im kind of worried and just want to know whats going on already =[,i have all the signs of type 1 diabetes except for weight loss

No you can't and the answer why is rather simple.

A snapshot of your glucose taken at home may or may not reflect a number of things, the most important of which is what you may have eaten or not eaten which will effect your blood sugars.

Another reason is that meters are not 100% aaccurate, the FDA requires that all commerically sold meters have the same degree of accuracy or to say it differently they must be in the same range of inaccuracy which can be +/- up to 20% in either direction.

Which is the reason tests such as the fasting blood sugat must be performed by a lab since they use different methods to test the accuracy of the test as opposed to home meters which only give you a random snapshot of your glucose.

Results from home meters should be used as a guideline in helping the diabetic understand what is happening with their bodies at the time they eat, after they eat and when fasting/upon wakening.

no you don't have all the signs of type 1!! you are still up and walking around being a pessimist. Weight loss and being unable to function normally are two of the most important parts of being type 1 person.

You could go buy a glucometer and the strips, but why when if you are diabetic the doctor will either give you a meter and an Rx for the strips or the Rx for the meter and the strips as well. The insurance company will NOT reimburse for prepurchased meter and strips. The strips cost mostly more than $1 each and come in vials of 25 to 50 so you can see they are rather high $$$.

Here I am agreeing with your mother, but only because of the cost!! Otherwise if you know some one with a meter, ask if they will check your glucose levels for you.

No, you cannot.
It will just tell you your blood sugar at that specific moment, so even if you are diabetic, your blood sugar can be normal.
Also, some people who are not diabetic can experience out of target sugar levels. The only way of knowing for sure is going to the doctors.

If you have the blood checker, just check your blood. If it's between like, 90 and 120 you're completely normal. But if it's above that then going to a doctors is a good idea. Just make sure that you wash your hands really good first, because if you don't then your blood level could be wrong. I really hope you don't have it! Good luck!!

It is always best to go to the doctor first. Your doctor will be able to determine the best treatments for you. I am not sure if you can test yourself, and if you can the results may be totally wrong. I hope everything turns out okay. But please see your doctor.

Nope. It will tell you only what your blood sugar is at that moment. The tests your doctor will perform will look at your average blood sugar levels and your pancreas ability to breakdown sugars to simplify it. Good luck.

well it will do you no harm in testing your blood sugar level. keeping a log will aid you and the doctors. make sure to test it before you eat, as the food glucose will raise your results.

It can't hurt and can lead to a better understanding.