When my mother first started taking her own blood sugar things were pretty primitive.  We thought it was advanced back then, but compared today it's like the Stone Age.  You can go into any drug store and buy a complete diabetes kitfor hardly anything.  They are simple to use and state of the art.  My sister had to use one once for about a year when her blood sugar went out of whack.  She never knew what caused it, but the reading shocked her doctor when she finally did get into the office. I was too.  Cathy called me when she got home.  She was a little worried, and she was asking about diabetes in the family.  I told her that mom's was from medication; at least that's what her doctors told her.   Cathy's doctors tell her that if she watches her diet and gets some exercise she should be able to get to the point where her blood sugar is under control.  Of course, because I have a medicine cabinet full of kits and tests, I went immediately and tested myself.  It was normal.  I was glad about that.  Once I took mine then Tara wanted to take hers.  We spent about two hours taking tests and waiting for the results.