Test Your Blood Sugar

If you were recently diagnosed with diabetes or have another blood glucose control issue, you will likely have to test your blood sugar on a routine basis. This may seem difficult to do at first. However, regularly checking your blood sugar can help you monitor how well your medications or treatments are working, and is an important part of a diabetic care routine. Testing your blood sugar is an easy procedure at your doctor's office, and can be done simply at home once you purchase a glucose meter and become comfortable with how to use it.

Steps

Setting Up Your Glucometer

1. Choose a glucose meter that meets your needs. Buy a Glucose Meter is the best way to be able to check your blood sugar yourself. Some glucometers store your readings in their memory while others do not, and the machines vary in how much blood is needed and how easy they are to use. Start by thinking about what you need in a glucose meter—prioritize ease of use, price, memory capabilities, and whether there are extra functions.
   • Look at some of the different products that are available and compare them to find the best one for you.
   • Some special functions that machines may have include checking for ketones (for Type 1 diabetics), using alternate languages, “flagging” capabilities, and being able to upload data to a computer.
   • The doctor or specialist who takes care of your diabetes probably has a lot of experience in helping patients choose the right blood sugar monitor. Ask something like, “Do you have a brand of glucose meter that you recommend?”
   • Read user reviews and check ratings. Some meters are more reliable than others in terms of readings, integrity of data archived, and especially accuracy. Take the time to check into consumer ratings and comments, so you are sure to get a quality machine.
2. Purchase the supplies you need. It's easy to obtain a glucose meter kit—you can get one at your local pharmacy or on the internet. Most kits contain lancets (testing needles), a lancing device, testing strips, and a meter to read the results. Buy from recognizable sites like Amazon or directly from the company's website, and only buy new products.
   • Before buying your glucometer, check what test strips will be easily accessible to you. Glucometers use specific test strips, and some are much more expensive or harder to get than others, so choose a machine for which the strips will be easy to get.
3. Minimize your costs by taking advantage of insurance coverage. Before you buy your glucose meter, check with your insurance to make sure they will cover the brand of machine and test strips you need. Your doctor can probably give you a prescription for your glucometer, which will help keep costs down. Try to purchase test strips, which can be expensive, at online retail websites. You can also try to save money by using a pharmaceutical assistance program.
   • When getting test strips online, check the expiration date on the strips and determine if you can reasonably use all those strips before that date.
4. Read the directions that came with the meter and lancing device. Carefully read and study the pamphlet that came with your meter. Different meters can vary in how they operate. Some now have advanced functions such as pattern recognition. Carefully read through the instructions and make sure you understand exactly how to use the device. If you have any questions, contact your doctor before using the machine.
   • It may be a good idea to bring your glucometer to your next doctor's appointment and ask them to show you how to use it.
5. Test the glucometer first. Most glucometers come with a means to test their accuracy. The kit may include a pre-treated test strip or a liquid for you to place on an unused test strip. You will then insert this strip into the machine and check the reading against the limits provided in the instruction manual.
6. Ask your doctor if you should test before or after eating. Do you need your reading to be a fasting blood sugar? If so, do not eat for 8 hours before you check your sugar. It's best to take your reading first thing in the morning, and simply not eat after your dinner the night before. However, for those with Type 1 diabetes, fasting for more than 8 hours may cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), so it might be necessary to have a snack before bed. You might want to check your blood sugar immediately after a meal, or 2 hours after you eat (this is called a postprandial reading).
   • Discuss your goals with your doctor. They should be able to explain what you want to accomplish with your blood sugar readings, like, “Some people need to check their sugar before and after each meal, but you can just check right before you eat.”
7. Insert a test strip into the glucometer. Your glucose meter may automatically turn on, but glucometers can differ in when you are supposed to insert the test strip. You may need to insert the strip before you lance your finger or you may need to put blood on the strip and then insert it into the machine.
   • Be sure to insert the correct end of the strip into the machine.
8. Place a lancet in your lancing device. Pull off the top of the lancing device and put the lancet into the device. Push the lancet into the device until you hear a click, or can feel that it is pushed down all the way into place.
   • Most lancets will have a small cap over them, hiding the needle. Be sure to remove this before placing the lancing device cap back on. To remove it, simply twist it counter clockwise or clockwise and pull it off.
   • Place the cap back on while rotating the cap on the end of the lancing device.
9. Wait for the glucometer to prompt you for a sample. The glucometer will have a readout area that will alert you when it is ready. It may say "Place sample on strip" or it may use an icon, such as a drop of liquid, to show that you can insert your sample.
   • Many machines are automatically coded, especially newer models. Others require you to look at the screen to check that the number displayed is the same as the code on the packet of strips. Read your instructions carefully to know if you have to check this.

Using a Glucometer

1. Clean your hands and sampling area. Wash your hands with soap and warm water. Rinse thoroughly to remove any soap residue and turn off the tap with your arm or elbow. Dry them thoroughly with a paper towel. Never use hand wipes or hand sanitizer, as these can affect the result. Clean the finger you're going to prick with an alcohol swab, or with rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball.
   • Alcohol evaporates rapidly so there's no need to dry the area; that will just recontaminate it. Let the alcohol air dry.
2. Prick the side of your finger. Push the button on the top of the lancing device and then position it over the side of your fingertip, up by the edge of your fingernail. Make sure the cap is on the lancing device. Press the button on the side of the lancing device to prick your finger. This process should not be very painful—you might not even feel it. If the blood doesn't come out on its own, try squeezing or massaging the finger on either side until you squeeze out a drop. Let the blood form a small bead on your finger.
   • Always switch fingers during the day and switch hands every day to prevent scar tissue buildup on your fingertips.
   • If you find it hard to get a drop of blood from your finger, let your hand dangle at your side for several minutes before you prick your finger to increase blood flow.
   • You can also take a blood sample from your forearm, which may be more comfortable. However, this method isn’t as accurate as a finger prick. Stick to sampling from your finger if you’re on insulin and need to monitor your blood sugar closely.
3. Apply the blood to the end of the test strip. Hold the bead of blood to touch the tip of the strip at the right place, which should be indicated on the strip. Some newer strips offer a "wicking" action that will draw the blood up into the test strip. Other meters and strips will require you to drop your blood onto the strip. The screen will indicate when there is enough blood on the strip to run the test.
4. Wait for your results. The glucometer will start to count down in seconds until your results are ready to read. Newer glucometers usually take 5 seconds, and older versions can take 10 to 30 seconds. The meter may beep or indicate on the screen when it has a reading ready.
5. Read the results. The results will appear on the screen. Your results will vary depending on what time of day it is, how recently you ate, and what you ate. Your results are specific to you—a good reading for one person may not be a good reading for someone else. Make sure you and your doctor have discussed what is a healthy reading for you.

Completing Your Blood Sugar Routine

1. Dispose of your lancet and test strip carefully. Lancing needles should be disposed of in a sharps container, and test strips should be thrown away in a biohazard container. Using a new lancet each time reduces the pain involved in pricking your finger.
   • Always use a new lancet for every test. Never reuse them.
2. Record your blood glucose result in your glucose diary. Keeping a diary can help you to spot patterns and discuss your results with your healthcare team. Make sure you note the day, time, and whether your reading was fasting, post-prandial (2 hours after eating), or otherwise how recently you ate.
   • Some glucometers store the readings for you in their on-board memory, but it may still be helpful to write your records down. Go the extra step of recording what you ate that day, and what dosage of medication you take, if applicable.
3. Bring your record to your doctor visits. Your glucometer may store your results so that your doctor can see the results of all your previous tests. If it does not have this function, make sure you bring a log of all your readings. Bring your glucometer as well so your doctor can make sure it's calibrated and working correctly.

Getting Tested by Your Doctor

1. Know whether your test is “fasting” or not. A “fasting” blood test means one that is done after 8 hours or more of not eating. If you are getting your blood sugar tested at your doctor's office, find out whether you need to fast the night before or not.
   • If you are supposed to fast for your test, do not eat the night before or the morning of your appointment. Drinking water is okay. Most fasting tests are scheduled for first thing in the morning so you don't have to go hungry all day long.
   • For some types of blood sugar tests, like the A1c test, you don’t need to fast. The A1c test is meant to determine your average daily blood sugar level over a period of 2-3 months.
2. Expect to have a blood sample taken. If you get your blood sugar tested at your doctor's office, they will take a blood sample from a vein. Your healthcare provider will clean the area with alcohol, usually the inside of your elbow, and tie a tight band called a tourniquet around the top of your arm. They will use a syringe (medical needle) to take a blood sample, which may feel moderately uncomfortable, like a bee sting. Once the sample is taken, the tourniquet will be removed, and a band aid will be put on the area.
   • You might feel some mild throbbing afterwards, or get a small bruise. Usually the procedure is not very painful, and it's over in about a minute.
   • If you tend to feel nervous or get lightheaded around needles, bring a small snack with you for after the sample is taken. If you get nauseated or pass out after having blood taken, it's just your body's response to feeling scared. A small, sugary snack can help you feel better.
3. Discuss the results with your doctor. You will either receive a call or have a follow-up appointment to discuss the results of your tests. Ask the doctor or nurse any questions you may have, such as "What do these results mean?"; or "Is this a good result?"; or "Is my fasting blood sugar at a healthy level?"; or "What should I do next?"
   • A normal result for a fasting glucose test is under 100 mg/dL. Before meals, your blood sugar should be in the range of 70 to 99 mg/dL.
   • Results of non-fasting tests will vary depending on when you last ate, and what you ate. “Postprandial” readings are taken 2 hours after you last ate, and should be under 140 mg/dl.
   • What’s good or “normal” can vary from one person to another. Your doctor might set different goals for you depending on your situation and health status. For example, if they think you’re at risk of developing low blood sugar, they might work with you to achieve higher blood sugar levels on your next test.

Tips

• Continuous blood glucose monitors are automatic, meaning they do not come with test strips. These typically work via a small electrode placed under the skin. Some even sync with your mobile phone and can warn you about sudden sugar highs and lows. Even when using a continuous glucose monitor, manufacturers typically recommend that you use finger sticks periodically to calibrate the sensor.

Warnings

• Contact your doctor or go to the hospital if your blood sugar is over 12.0 mmol/l or 220 mg/dl.
• Always dispose of used lancets properly to avoid other people accidentally being pricked.
• Never use a lancet or lancing device that has been used by another person—there is a risk of infection.

Things You'll Need

• Blood glucose meter
• Test strips
• Lancing device
• Lancets
• Biohazard container/sharps bin
• Blood glucose log

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Quick Summary

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See also

• Improve Your Health as a Diabetic
• Become a Diabetes Educator
• Cope With a Diagnosis of Diabetes

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• Improve Your Health as a Diabetic