Normal blood sugar range is 82 mg/dL to 110 mg/dL. Abnormal blood sugar readings can indicate a medical problem. A person with diabetes must check his blood levels a few times a day to help keep his blood sugar within a normal range. Based on a patient's medical condition, a doctor decides his patient's target blood sugar range. Testing blood sugar can be done quickly and just about anywhere with small glucose meter.
Step 1
Wash hands with soap and water. Remove a test strip from the bottle of test strips. Place the lid back on the bottle of strips immediately to prevent moisture from damaging the test strips.
Step 2
Insert the test strip into the glucose meter. Follow the manufacture's guide that came with the meter to ensure the test strip is placed accurately.
Step 3
Place a clean, unused needle in the lancet device. Stick the finger with the lancet device. Stick the side of the finger to minimize sore spots.
Step 4
Place a drop of blood on the appropriate spot on the test strip.
Step 5
Apply pressure with a cotton ball on the finger to stop bleeding. Look at the results. Most glucose meters give blood sugars within a few seconds.
Step 6
Discard lancet and test strip in sharps container.
Tips and Warnings
- Because fingertips contain a large number of nerve endings, rotating sites can help minimize soreness and pain. A glucose monitor may need to be coded with each new bottle of test strips. The code number on the glucose monitor should match the code number on the bottle of test strips. Logging blood sugar results, including date, time, medication taken, food eaten and physical activity in a record book can help a person understand factors that influence blood sugar.
- Always discard lancets and test strips in a sharps container. When the sharps container is full, it must be properly discarded. Never throw sharps container out with regular garbage. Sharps containers must be dropped off at a site that disposes of medical waste or in some cases, the container can be mailed back to the company where it purchased. Sharps containers can be purchased at medical supply stores. An empty plastic laundry detergent container also can be used. Always keep sharps containers away from children and pets. Always use a clean, unused needle with each blood sugar test. Reusing needles can cause infections.
Things You'll Need
- Glucose meter
- Test strips
- Lancets
- Lancet device
- Cotton balls
- Sharps container
