How to Test Your Blood Sugar

By Kate Cornell - 0 Comments

How:

First you need a glucose meter.  There are a variety of makes and models available.  The meter you choose might be guided by your insurance company or the cost of test strips.  Regardless of the meter you choose, the FDA requires that all meters be within a 20% accuracy range. (Talk to your healthcare team or pharmacist to get started if you don’t have a meter yet!)

• Wash your hands with soap and water.  This is the best method to ensure accuracy.  Any substance on your hands might give you a false reading.  It isn’t recommended that you use alcohol wipes but they will do in a pinch if soap and water aren’t readily available.
• Place a test strip in your meter.  Be sure to always use the test strips that are designed to work with your particular meter.
• Prick your finger with the lancing device.  You may want to adjust the depth of the device in order to get the best results.  It’s often recommended that you use the side of your finger to avoid sore finger pads.
• Gently squeeze a drop of blood from your finger and apply it to the test strip.
• Record your results.

Occasionally it can be difficult to get a drop of blood.  Here are some tips for ensuring a sufficient blood sample:

• With your hand hanging at your side, shake your hand vigorously to get the blood flow to the tips of your fingers.
• Use warm water when washing your hands.
• Gently massage the tip of your finger prior to lancing.

  When:

  So when should you test?  The answer to this question differs depending on the type of diabetes you have and the medications you take.  You should always discuss with your doctor the best option for you.  Those with type 1 diabetes are recommended to test 3 or more times per day with some people testing as much as 10 times per day.  Those with type 2 diabetes should test 1-3 times per day, provided you plan to use the data to adjust your diabetes care plan. 
  
  Regardless of your type of diabetes, everyone can and should use these guidelines for when to test. The target ranges in parenthesis are recommended by the American Diabetes Association.  The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommends somewhat stricter guidelines.
  
• Fasting.  (between 90 and 130 mg/dL)  This is usually first thing in the morning before you eat or drink anything.  A fast is at least 8 hours with no food/drink consumption.
• Pre-prandial (before a meal). (between 70 and 130 mg/dL)  People who inject insulin will use this information to help calculate their dosage.  Those who don’t inject insulin can use this reading, in conjunction with a post-meal reading, to determine how certain foods affect their blood glucose.
• Post-prandial (after a meal).  (lower than 180 mg/dL)  This reading will tell you how the foods you ate affect your blood glucose and whether or not your insulin dosage was sufficient.  This reading can be taken anywhere from 1-2 hours after the first bite of food.  Many people find that 75-90 minutes gives them the most accurate information.
• Bedtime.  This reading is often used to determine insulin dosages.

You may also want to test at random times during the day just to see how you’re doing.  It’s also important to test if you are having symptoms of hypoglycemia.
The best way to utilize blood glucose monitoring is to keep a log of your results. Take that log book with you to your next doctor visit so you can work together to identify trends and make informed decisions about your care plan.
Monitoring your blood glucose levels when you have diabetes may be just one tool you can use to better control your decision, but it’s a very important tool!