According to the Mayo Clinic, what all types of diabetes have in common is their influence on the body’s blood glucose. Levels of glucose in the body are crucial to health because glucose serves as the key energy supply for cells. All types of diabetes elevate the level of glucose in the body, which may lead to serious consequences. To manage diabetes, knowing how to measure the body’s glucose levels is vital.
Step 1
Be sure to follow your doctor’s advice carefully. Many testing monitors differ and may have different procedures to follow. Familiarize yourself with your meter and how to use it before taking a blood test.
Step 2
Take special care to wash your hands well and dry them off carefully.
Step 3
Pick an area of skin to use for the testing. Different monitors may require you to use different parts of your body for testing. Some common areas include the thighs, forearms and various other parts of the arms. However, the most common area for testing is still the fingertips.
Step 4
Swab the area you have chosen with alcohol pads. It is important you sterilize any part of your body that you cut because unsterile cuts may develop infections.
Step 5
Obtain a drop of blood from the area of your choice by pricking it with a sterilized lancet.
Step 6
Deposit the drop of blood you drew onto one of the testing strips.
Step 7
Place the testing strip with your blood, as per instructions, into your glucose meter and wait for the device to give you the results.
Step 8
Keep records of your results and test your glucose levels frequently. Knowing what your average and current levels are can greatly help you stick to your diet and exercise plans. The key to long-term success against diabetes lies in taking as many steps as you can to lower your risk of developing potentially harmful medical conditions as a result of your abnormal glucose levels.
Tips and Warnings
- Consider spending more money on specialized testing devices if you have problems with vision or memory. Some meters have large, easy-to-read monitors or can log results from previous tests. These special functions can make the use of a testing device much easier.
- Talk to your doctor. Diabetes can contribute to developing dangerous medical conditions. Proper knowledge can help you in your fight against diabetes.
Things You'll Need
- Sterile lancets
- Alcohol pads
- Sterile test strips
- Glucose meter
