If you've been diagnosed with diabetes, you've learned how important it is to check your blood glucose levels throughout the day. Abnormally high levels of glucose can lead to kidney failure, nerve damage, blindness and loss of limb. Fortunately, there are hundreds of quality glucose meters to choose from to help you manage your disease. It all begins with a visit to your doctor's office.
Step 1
Meet with your doctor and get tested for diabetes. If you suspect that you may have diabetes, your doctor will order a blood glucose test or an oral glucose tolerance test. If the results come back positive, you'll need to learn how to read a glucose monitor.
Step 2
Prepare to take the reading. Wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap. If you don't have access to soap and water, clean your hands using an alcohol swab. Be sure the alcohol has completely evaporated before proceeding with the test.
Step 3
Remove a lancet from its packaging and stick the side of your finger. Some glucose monitors allow you to stick your arm or other parts of your body. Squeeze on the side of the area you stuck to produce a droplet of blood.
Step 4
Squeeze a drop of blood onto a test strip. Insert the test strip into the glucose monitor and wait a few seconds for the monitor to generate a reading. Refer to the meter manufacturer's instructions. Discard the test strip immediately after use.
Step 5
Read the glucose results from the monitor and note them in a small notebook or journal. Keep track of your glucose readings throughout the day and make notes concerning the time of day, changes in meal times or anything else that may factor into how you're managing your blood glucose levels.
Step 6
Ask your doctor to conduct a blood glucose test using his clinical laboratory. Compare the results to your glucose monitor so you can calibrate its accuracy.
Tips and Warnings
- Always wash your hands before testing your blood glucose. Get recommendations for monitors from your doctor. Be sure that the monitor is easy to use and read; some require special coding and others have a voice readout of the results.
- Never use blood from areas of the body not supported by the monitor. Keep your monitor clean at all times. Avoid using outdated test strips Use a sufficiently large amount of blood for the test reading.
Things You'll Need
- Alcohol swabs
- Soap and water
- Glucose meter
- Test strips
- Small notebook and pen
