Dual blood glucose and ketone test meters

A dual blood glucose and blood ketone test meter allows you to test for blood glucose as well as blood ketones using a single meter. You will need to use different test strips depending on whether you are measuring glucose or ketones.

• A small drop of blood from pricking your fingertip with a lancet, is placed on a disposable test strip that the meter reads. This is called a finger prick test.
• Depending on which test trip you use (glucose or ketone strip), the test meter calculates your blood glucose or ketone level.
• The reading on the meter shows you what your levels are, whether they are too high or too low, to help you decide if you need help with managing them.

A dual blood glucose and blood ketone test meter is used to monitor your blood glucose, even if you are using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), and to monitor your ketones. See below: When is a dual blood glucose and blood ketone test meter used?

To monitor your blood glucose, if you are not using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM)

Generally people with Type 1 diabetes should test themselves every time they give themselves quick acting insulin, so the dose can be adjusted if blood glucose is high. They may also need to measure blood glucose levels before meals and before bedtime.

Testing your blood glucose helps you to:

• monitor your blood glucose to make sure that the amount of insulin you are getting is just right for you
• look for high or low glucose levels so that they can be treated if needed
• monitor and treat diabetes during exercise and illness.
• Learn more about blood glucose testing for type 1 diabetes.

To check your blood glucose, if you are using a CGM

If you are using a CGM and your blood glucose levels go very high or very low, it's important to double-check with a finger prick test before deciding to treat, especially if your symptoms don’t match the CGM readings.

Finger prick tests are still important even if you are using a CGM to monitor your glucose levels. That's because finger prick tests give a more accurate reading of your blood glucose.

• CGMs measure the glucose levels just under your skin, in the interstitial fluid (the fluid that fills the spaces between your cells), while a finger prick test measures the level in your blood. Interstitial glucose levels lag behind blood glucose levels by a few minutes.
• The differences between CGM readings and finger-prick readings will be most noticeable when glucose levels are changing, rather than when they are stable.
• Learn more Can I stop doing finger-prick checks to monitor my blood glucose if I have a CGM?

To monitor your blood ketones

• Your body makes ketones when it’s using fat instead of glucose for energy. This usually happens when your body does not have enough insulin(external link) to help it use glucose for energy. Instead, your body starts burning fat for energy, which releases harmful ketones.
• A build-up of ketones in your body causes your blood to become acidic. This is why it's called ketoacidosis.  
• Monitoring blood ketones allows you to find out early if you are developing diabetic ketoacidosis.
• Diabetic ketoacidosis can become life threatening very quickly. It's important to know when to test for ketones and what to do if your ketones are raised.
• Learn more about diabetic ketoacidosis.

In New Zealand it is subsidised for people who have:

• type 1 diabetes
• permanent neonatal diabetes
• had a pancreatectomy (operation to remove the pancreas)
• cystic fibrosis-related diabetes
• metabolic disease or epilepsy under the care of a paediatrician, neurologist or metabolic specialist.

These criteria can change, so check with your diabetes nurse or doctor.

The currently funded dual blood glucose and blood ketone test meter is the CareSens Dual meter.

Compatible test strips

You will need to use different test strips depending on whether you are measuring glucose or ketones.

• Glucose testing strips: CareSens PRO
• Ketone testing strips: KetoSens

If you are unsure how to use your blood glucose meter, your healthcare provider can teach you. This could be:

• a diabetes nurse educator or diabetes nurse specialist
• your local pharmacist
• the practice nurse at your GP surgery.

Some cities have a representative from the company supplying your meter and they will be able to teach you if they are available.

Watch the videos in the tabs below to see how to use CareSens meters.

Tips when using your test meter

• Wash and dry your hands and fingertips before testing. If you have been handling something sweet before testing this may get into your test and make it falsely high.
• Prick your fingers on the side of your finger (towards the tip) rather than on the pad (or tip) of your finger. This will be more comfortable for you, especially if you use a keyboard.
• You will get a much better sized drop of blood if your hands are warm before testing.
• The lancets (prickers) that are used within the finger-pricking device should be changed at least every 2 or 3 days. This reduces pain and also reduces the risk of infection.

Travelling with diabetes

• Diabetes and travelling(external link) Diabetes New Zealand
• Navigating airport security screening: Guidance for people living with diabetes(external link) Aviation Security Service, NZ
• Travelling with children who have diabetes(external link) KidsHealth NZ
• Travel(external link) Diabetes Australia
• Travel and type 1 diabetes(external link) Diabetes Australia

Disposing of your diabetes supplies

You can dispose of test strips in the general rubbish. Lancets (finger prickers) must be disposed of in a sharps bin. Read more about the safe disposal of syringes, needles and other sharps.