How to Use a Glucose Meter

Glucose meters are an essential way for diabetics to monitor blood sugar levels. When blood sugar levels become too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia), diabetics can have health problems--even going into a coma or dying. Glucose meters measure sugar levels from a drop of blood. They alert the diabetic if levels are off, so that the patient can take steps to bring them back to normal.

Things You'll Need

• Glucose meter
• Test strips
• Lancet and needle

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Instructions

Preparing the Meter

• 1

  Wash your hands thoroughly with warm soap and water.

• 2

  Place the needle in the lancet device. Needles are securely enveloped for safety and sterility, so they are always packaged separately from the lancet machine.

• 3

  Insert a test strip in the glucose meter. The meter automatically turns on.

• 4

  Enter your test strip code. The glucose meter prompts you for a code that matches the test strip. Once this is entered, the meter is ready for a drop of blood.

Take a Blood Sample

• 5

  Place the lancing device against the fleshy part of the finger.

• 6

  Click the button at the top. This sends the needle into the skin to cause a small amount of bleeding.

• 7

  Squeeze blood onto the test strip in the glucose meter.

• 8

  Wait for the glucose meter results. The meter may take a minute to detect levels. Most diabetics have a log book to record their blood sugar levels.

Clean Up

• 9

  Throw away the strip.

• 10

  Place the needle in a puncture-proof container and throw it away.

• 11

  Wash your hands to keep any bacteria or dirt from entering the puncture wound.