If you have diabetes there are a few diabetic supplies that you need. A blood glucose meter is probably one of the more important supplies to help you with your diabetes. Testing your own blood glucose levels help both you and your doctor to see if your plan of treatment is working for you. It is very easy to do. Most people really do not like the idea of having to poke yourself with a needle. For the blood glucose check as well as for taking insulin. However all you need is a small drop of blood from your finger. It really is pretty painless. And after doing it a few times you will barely feel the prick. You then just place it on a special test strip and put the strip into the glucose meter. The glucose meter will then measure your blood glucose levels. Your doctor will tell all about when and how often to do the blood testing. Most insurance companies will cover the purchase of blood testing equipment, as will Medicare and Medicaid The normal range for blood glucose is 70 - 115 mg/dl. Blood glucose levels will go up immediately following a eating or drinking and especially a whole meal, but should return to normal levels within 2 hours. Blood glucose levels of 126 mg/dl or higher, are diagnosed as having diabetes.