Tips For Diabetic Home Care and Monitoring

Copper Reduction Test

A form of urine testing, this uses cupric sulfate. If glucose is detected, the cupric sulfate changes to cuprous oxide and at the same time, the color changes from blue to green or orange. Errors can take place if there are other components other than glucose in the urine, like aspirin or vitamin C. The false reading can have people assuming they are at a high glucose level when, in fact, they are at a healthy level.

Urine Glucose Tests

Urine tests are not very accurate because they only record results if there is glucose in the urine and the level has to be quite high (180 mg/dL) to show up. The result usually comes up negative at levels below 180 mg/dL. As well, the results do not represent the glucose levels at the time of testing, but the time between when the sample was taken and the previous time the diabetic urinated. They are not recommended to be used to change insulin doses.