Measuring your blood glucose and cholesterol levels is highly important for your health. Measuring blood sugar levels gives you insight as to how well your body is processing glucose, which is blood sugar. For instance, a random blood draw with blood sugar levels above 200 mg/dL might indicate you have diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Cholesterol tracking, often called a lipid profile, checks levels of cholesterol to determine your potential risk for developing heart disease, according to American Association for Clinical Chemistry. People with diabetes also are prone to high cholesterol levels.
Blood Glucose Testing
Step 1
Clean your hands thoroughly with soap and water. This will sterilize the testing site.
Step 2
Dry your hands with a towel.
Step 3
Remove a sterile test strip from the test strip container, and insert it into the glucose monitor. The absorbent end of the strip should face away from the glucose monitor.
Step 4
Attach the lancet to the lancing device, and adjust the puncture depth so that it will slightly puncture the skin.
Step 5
Place the lancing device against the side of your index finger, which is less sensitive than the palm-side fingertip. You can alternate hands to prevent continual discomfort on one side.
Step 6
Press the lancing device's button to eject the lancing tip onto your finger. This should break the skin and draw a small amount of blood.
Step 7
Bring the test strip into contact with this blood. The absorbent end should pull the blood into the small holding area. You might need to gently squeeze your finger if there is not enough blood to fill the entire absorbent compartment of the test strip.
Step 8
Wait a few seconds for your test results to display. According to the Mayo Clinic website, these are where values should range under various conditions: fasting at least eight hours, between 90 and 130 mg/dL; before meals, between 70 and 130 mg/dL; and one to two hours after meals, lower than 180 mg/dL.
Step 9
Dispose of the lancet tip into the appropriate lancet storage container to prevent the needle from puncturing anything else. Lancets, lancet tips and lancet storage containers are considered hazardous waste products.
Step 10
Remove testing strip and dispose of immediately. You might need to dispose of these in a secure bag to prevent spreading of germs or diseases.
Step 11
Thoroughly clean testing equipment with a sterile alcohol pad, and store appropriately.
Cholesterol Monitoring
Step 1
Set up an appointment with your doctor to have the blood draw for the lipid profile.
Step 2
Fast for nine to 12 hours before the test, taking no food or liquid except water. Your doctor also might recommend temporary suspension of certain medications that might influence the test.
Step 3
Arrive at the doctor's office ready for the blood draw.
Step 4
Wait while the doctor sterilizes the site for the blood draw. This will help prevent infection at the site of the puncture.
Step 5
Wait while the doctor draws the necessary amount of blood for the lipid profile. The doctor probably will put an elastic band around your arm to help you vein fill with blood and use a needle to draw the blood. Your doctor's nurse or assistant also might do the blood draw.
Step 6
Wait while the doctor removes the needle after the blood is drawn. The doctor will apply a compression bandage to the site to stop the bleeding.
Step 7
Eat a snack after the blood draw to help return your glucose levels back to normal after fasting.
Step 8
Talk to your doctor about the results, which should be available in a few days. According to the Mayo Clinic website, a cholesterol level of below 200 mg/dL is desirable, 200-239 mg/dL is borderline high and over 240 mg/dL is considered high.
Things You'll Need
- Lancet
- Glucose monitor
- Lancing device
- Lancing device cap with dial to set depth of skin puncture
- Test strip
- Test strip container
- Lancet disposal container
- Alcohol pad
