Glucose is a sugar in the blood, and in high amounts, it is responsible for diabetes. Diabetes results when your glucose levels are not controlled, rising above unhealthy levels for a variety of reasons. You may not be following your treatment plan or your medication may need adjustment. Whatever the reason, uncontrolled blood glucose levels can result in complications such as heart disease, eye problems and kidney failure. Monitoring your glucose is the most important step you can take in controlling and maintaining a healthy blood sugar, explains the American Diabetes Association.
Step 1
Ask your doctor what your levels should be and when you need to test. Your amount of physical activity, weight and medication contribute to what your glucose levels should be, and when you need to test. Therefore, check with your doctor at each visit before testing.
Step 2
Make sure you have your supplies ready before testing. These include your glucose meter, testing strips, alcohol swabs and lancets, or needles. Be sure these supplies are sterile.
Step 3
Wash and dry your hands thoroughly. Doing this ensures a clean, germ-free sample.
Step 4
Remove a test strip from the container. Once you have a test strip, replace the lid immediately to prevent damage to the other strips, explains MayoClinic.com.
Step 5
Lower your arms to your side for one minute. Dangling your arms by your side allows your blood to pool to your hands, making it easier to retrieve the sample.
Step 6
Open an alcohol packet. Choose a finger and wipe the chosen area with an alcohol swab. This cleanses the area one more time before taking the sample. MayoClinic.com recommends using the side of your finger instead of the tip to avoid any sore areas on the fingers you use the most.
Step 7
Prick the finger and take the sample. Prick your finger with the lancet and gently massage the area until a drop of blood appears. Place the test strip to the blood, using caution not to touch the strip to the skin. This may interfere with your test results.
Step 8
Place your test strip in the meter. All meters are different, so you may receive your results in seconds or minutes. You then record the results in a journal, allowing your doctor to view your daily levels.
