Glucose (Sugar) Monitoring

Monitoring glucose (sugar) levels in urine or blood has always been part of the insulin users’ daily routine.  The first home tests involved boiling urine over an alcohol burner and observing color change after adding a chemical reagent.  Later kits replaced the alcohol and liquid chemicals with reactive tablets which required no exterior heat source.  By the 1960s color changing testing strips were developed which reacted directly with urine.

Today, most testing is done using blood glucose, rather than urine glucose.  Blood glucose testing was not possible outside of the laboratory until the 1970s when the first test strips and digital blood glucose monitoring devices became available for home use.

Examination of Urine for Sugar with the Urine Sugar Test Case, Sheftel

Examination of Urine for Sugar with the Urine Sugar Test Case, Sheftel, from Diabetes Mellitus by Eli Lilly and Company. 1942.

Clinitest Urine-Sugar Analysis Set

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1942
product introduced
1941
maker
Effervescent Products, INC
ID Number
1981.0219.006
catalog number
1981.0219.006
accession number
1981.0219

Lilly Urine Sugar Test Kit, Sheftel, Test Kit No. 6

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1940s
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
1982.0498.22
catalog number
1982.0498.22
accession number
1982.0498

Tes-Tape, Urine Sugar Analysis Paper, M-73

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1963
product expiration date
1964-02-01
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
1982.0531.058
catalog number
1982.0531.058
accession number
1982.0531

Blood Glucose Test Strips, Visidex II

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1984
product expiration date
1986-02
maker
Ames
Miles Laboratories, Inc.
ID Number
1985.0178.01
catalog number
1985.0178.01
accession number
1985.0178

Blood Glucose Meter, Accu-Chek bG Model 750

A glucose meter (or glucometer) determines the amount of glucose in a sample of blood. An inscription on the front of this example reads “Accu-Chek bG / Blood Glucose Monitor.”Currently not on view
Description
A glucose meter (or glucometer) determines the amount of glucose in a sample of blood. An inscription on the front of this example reads “Accu-Chek bG / Blood Glucose Monitor.”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1985
maker
Boehringer Mannheim Diagnostics, Inc.
ID Number
1986.0001.01
accession number
1986.0001
catalog number
1986.0001.01

Blood Glucose Test Strips, ChemStrip bG

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1985
date(s) of previous ownership
1985-08-12
product expiration date
1986-01-12
maker
Boehringer Mannheim Diagnostics, Inc.
ID Number
1986.0001.02
accession number
1986.0001
catalog number
1986.0001.02

Blood Glucose Meter

A glucometer measures blood glucose. The first example was made by the Ames division of Miles Laboratories and introduced to the market in 1981.
Description
A glucometer measures blood glucose. The first example was made by the Ames division of Miles Laboratories and introduced to the market in 1981. It was developed by Anton Hubert Clemens, a German engineer who began working for this firm in 1965, and obtained several related patents. This example is a Model 5550. An inscription reads “AMES DIVISION MILES LABORATORIES INC., P.O. BOX 70, ELKHART, INDIANA 46515.”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1986
maker
Miles Laboratories
ID Number
2001.0031.01
catalog number
2001.0031.01
accession number
2001.0031

Lilly Urinary Test Kit No. 1, For Quantitative Determination of Sugar in Urine

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
MG.M-02886
catalog number
M-02886
accession number
111796

Urinometer

Urinometers are used to measure the specific gravity of urine, a measurement of its density. Specific gravity of urine fluctuates with the concentration of dissolved substances contained in the sample.
Description
Urinometers are used to measure the specific gravity of urine, a measurement of its density. Specific gravity of urine fluctuates with the concentration of dissolved substances contained in the sample. Urine with low specific gravity can be a sign of diabetes or kidney problems.
The urinometer has a graduated scale divided into four divisions. The upper most division is marked with the letter W: this is the level where the instrument rests in pure water. The next division is maked by the letter H: this is the level where the instrument rests when immersed in urine from a healthy person. The letter S indicates strong but not as healthy as H. Diabetes is indicated when the instrument rests in the lower most division.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
late19th century
late19th century
ID Number
MG.M-07862
catalog number
M-07862
accession number
223292

Einhorn's Fermentation Saccharometer for the Estimation of Sugar in Urine

Fermentation saccharometers were used to estimate the amount of sugar in urine and diagnose diabetes. A small amount of yeast was mixed with 10cc of urine and then poured into the bulb of the saccharometer.
Description (Brief)
Fermentation saccharometers were used to estimate the amount of sugar in urine and diagnose diabetes. A small amount of yeast was mixed with 10cc of urine and then poured into the bulb of the saccharometer. The apparatus was then tilted slightly to allow the liquid to flow into the graduated tube and force the air out. If sugar was present in the urine, alcoholic fermentation would begin. The carbon dioxide gas created in the fermenting process would rise to the top of the closed tube and force the level of liquid down. The changed level of the liquid corresponded to the approximate quantity of sugar present. The percentage of sugar could be read off the graduated scale on the closed tube side of the apparatus.
This device was developed by Dr. Max Einhorn, a gastroenterologist.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
inventor
Einhorn, Max
maker
Eimer and Amend
ID Number
MG.M-07865.01
catalog number
M-07865
accession number
223292

Ultra-Fine II Lancets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1997
maker
Becton, Dickinson and Company
ID Number
2001.0113.2
catalog number
2001.0113.2
accession number
2001.0113

At Last Blood Glucose System

Blood glucose monitoring kit with packaging, check strip, test strips, calibration chip, package insert, lancet holder, lancets (25), carrying case, meter cover, User's manual, Getting Started guide, self test log book, warranty card, extra bag of lancets, and three plastic strip
Description
Blood glucose monitoring kit with packaging, check strip, test strips, calibration chip, package insert, lancet holder, lancets (25), carrying case, meter cover, User's manual, Getting Started guide, self test log book, warranty card, extra bag of lancets, and three plastic strips of control solution.
White and aqua-blue box with black, blue, and aqua-blue writing and pictures of glucose monitor and glucose monitor in use. Box has a clear plastic window on the front revealing the monitor inside. The blood glucose monitor is blue and gray plastic with black print and barcode. The carrying case is black and blue fabric with blue metal zipper and blue plastic closure. Both the second bag of sterile lancets and the three control solution strips do not appear to be part of the original blood glucose monitor kit.
Printed on box: No More fingersticks! / Advanced all-in-one meter and sampling system. Freedom to choose the testing area that is most: Convenient, Comfortable, Pain-free
Location
Currently not on view
date made
about 1999
maker
Amira Medical, Inc.
ID Number
2014.0140.02
accession number
2014.0140
catalog number
2014.0140.02

At Last II Blood Glucose System Prototype

Blood glucose monitoring kit prototype with packaging mock-up. White box with internal dividers and printed prototype front panel attached. Box has handwritten "At Last II" (twice) and "Natalie Roc" on it.
Description
Blood glucose monitoring kit prototype with packaging mock-up. White box with internal dividers and printed prototype front panel attached. Box has handwritten "At Last II" (twice) and "Natalie Roc" on it. Box contains one prototype blood glucose monitor, carrying case, a sealed box of At Last test strips, and a sealed box of At Last lancets. Blood glucose monitor is blue and gray plastic with handwritten "10.165" written on it four times. Carrying case is blue fabric with blue metal zipper and blue plastic closure. At Last test strips box is sealed and contents expire July 31, 2003.
Printed on box: No More Fingersticks.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2001
maker
Amira Medical, Inc.
ID Number
2014.0140.03
accession number
2014.0140
catalog number
2014.0140.03

HypoGuard Supreme blood glucose testing strips (for use with the Hypocount Supreme or for visual reading)

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1991
product expiration date
1994-01
ID Number
2014.3066.07
nonaccession number
2014.3066
catalog number
2014.3066.07

First Choice Reagent Strips for blood glucose testing (for use with Glucometer 3 meter)

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1989
product expiration date
1996-02
ID Number
2014.3066.01
nonaccession number
2014.3066
catalog number
2014.3066.01

First Choice Reagent Strips for blood glucose testing (for use with One Touch meters)

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1993
product expiration date
1996-02
ID Number
2014.3066.03
nonaccession number
2014.3066
catalog number
2014.3066.03

First Choice Reagent strips for blood glucose testing (for use with Diascan meter)

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1992
product expiration date
1996-02
ID Number
2014.3066.04
nonaccession number
2014.3066
catalog number
2014.3066.04

At Last II blood glucose monitor

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1998
ID Number
2014.3066.09
nonaccession number
2014.3066
catalog number
2014.3066.09

At Last II blood glucose monitor

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1998
ID Number
2014.3066.08
nonaccession number
2014.3066
catalog number
2014.3066.08

First Choice Reagent Strips for blood glucose testing (for use with Glucometer meters)

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1989
product expiration date
1996-04
ID Number
2014.3066.02
nonaccession number
2014.3066
catalog number
2014.3066.02

At Last II blood glucose monitor

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1998
ID Number
2014.3066.10
nonaccession number
2014.3066
catalog number
2014.3066.10

At Last II blood glucose monitor

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1998
ID Number
2014.3066.11
nonaccession number
2014.3066
catalog number
2014.3066.11

At Last II blood glucose monitor

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1998
ID Number
2014.3066.12
nonaccession number
2014.3066
catalog number
2014.3066.12

LifeScan OneTouch

Dark gray blood glucose monitor with blue and white logo on front, LCD display panel, and operating button. Manufacturer's label on the back with serial number, PA435659.Currently not on view
Description
Dark gray blood glucose monitor with blue and white logo on front, LCD display panel, and operating button. Manufacturer's label on the back with serial number, PA435659.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
about 1989
maker
LifeScan Inc.
ID Number
2014.0140.15
accession number
2014.0140
catalog number
2014.0140.15

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.