Blood glucose monitors, also called glucometers, are invaluable tools for measuring blood sugar at home. Since many diabetics adjust their insulin doses depending on the blood glucose results, obtaining quick and accurate results allows diabetics to adapt their treatment to their particular needs rather than simply following a standard treatment. Most glucometers for home use are easy to handle and use, and provide a specific readout of a real-time blood glucose level. While reading your blood glucose reading on the glucometer is easy, recognizing the number's significance requires some study.
Step 1
Read the lighted display that appears on the glucometer after you place a drop of blood in the designated area on the monitoring strip. The number that appears is your blood glucose level. Many monitors display a series of countdown numbers to let you know they are working, so wait until the actual reading appears.
Step 2
Record your blood glucose level if your glucometer doesn't store your blood glucose readings. Many glucometers store a number of readings. Having a record of your blood glucose levels makes it easy for your medical practitioner to review your numbers and check your progress on keeping your blood glucose levels under control.
Step 3
Know your normal blood glucose readings. The average fasting blood glucose level ranges from 70 to 130 mg per deciliter, often abbreviated mg/dL. Yours may vary. After meals, your numbers should optimally be less than 180 mg/dL, according to MedlinePlus.
Step 4
Compare your reading to your norms and follow your medical practitioner's instructions. Your medical practitioner may instruct you to notify him if your levels are higher or lower than normal. He may also instruct you to take a specific amount of insulin or eat something if the numbers fall below a certain range.
Step 5
Recognize possibly inaccurate readings and look for the cause. If you test your blood glucose levels regularly, you know what range your numbers normally fall into. Not putting enough blood on the test strip or not cleaning your finger properly could cause an inaccurate reading. Storing the test strips where they get too wet, improper cleaning of the machine or using the wrong strips for your particular unit can also cause inaccurate readings, the Food and Drug Administration says.
Tips and Warnings
- Know your own normal readings, which may vary from typical results. A person with normal blood glucose readings might develop symptoms of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, at different readings than you would. Hypoglycemia can cause you to faint or become comatose without much warning.
- While blood glucose readings are a valuable tool for diabetics, pay attention to the way you feel, as well. Call your practitioner if you don't feel right, even if the glucometer says your blood glucose levels are within normal limits.
Things You'll Need
- Blood glucose monitor
- Alcohol wipes
- Monitoring strips
