When you have diabetes, one of the best ways to keep track of your blood sugars is to test it with a glucometer, a special machine that uses a drop of blood to measure glucose or blood sugar. Testing blood sugars can be daunting at first, but once you get the hang of it, it will become second nature. Testing blood sugars is an important part of good diabetic management.
Step 1
Talk to your doctor about when to check your blood sugars. He may want you to check it once a day at different times, or up to four times a day, depending on your medication regimen and your status.
Step 2
Read the instruction manual of your glucometer. There are many different brands of glucometers, and they all have different instructions. Familiarize yourself with your monitor, the parts and the instructions on how to use it.
Step 3
Perform quality assurance control check on your monitor as directed by the manual. This is important to make sure that your monitor is working properly and that you will get an accurate reading.
Step 4
Set the monitor if you need to for the pack of strips you are using. Some monitors allow for this by inserting a special strip. Other monitors need it to be programmed by using the buttons on the machine.
Step 5
Wash your hands with soap and warm water and dry them. Alcohol swabbing the finger can be drying, so be careful not to use this every time you check your blood sugar.
Step 6
Insert the strip in the machine if necessary, according to the directions on your machine.
Step 7
Use a lancet device to prick the side of one finger. Prick the side of the finger facing downward, so it will be easier to drop the blood on the strip. Some machines allow for a drop of blood from the inside of the arm or other part of the body.
Step 8
Squeeze the finger gently until a drop of blood appears, and apply this drop to the lancet. Most machines do not require a large drop of blood. Refer to the directions of your machine for guidance on the amount of blood necessary.
Step 9
Wait for the specified amount of time to, and the blood sugar will appear.
Step 10
Record this reading in your blood sugar log. Discuss your blood sugar patterns with your doctor, especially if they are outside of the range that the doctor recommends as your goals.
Tips and Warnings
- Discuss with your doctor your parameters, or the range that he would like your blood sugars to fall between. Discuss with your doctor how to deal with high and low blood sugar readings. They can be dangerous and may need immediate treatment or attention.
Things You'll Need
- Glucometer
- Lancet
- Glucometer strips
- Blood sugar log book
- Pen
