How to Use Diabetes Test Strips

Diabetes is a disease that must be constantly and vigilantly monitored. Luckily, glucose monitoring machines have made this task so much easier by providing diabetics a quick and easy way to test their blood sugar without interrupting their day or bothering their doctor. Not only are these machines convenient, but the diabetes test strips are so easy to use they even make models for children.

Things You'll Need

• Glucose testing machine
• Piercer
• Diabetes test strip
• Alcohol prep pad or alcohol soaked cotton ball

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Instructions

• 1

  Gather all your supplies ahead of time. This would include the glucose monitoring machine, the diabetes test strips and the piercer.

• 2

  Determine where you would like to perform the test. Most glucose machines suggest you use the fleshy tip of your finger, but some give you the option of using your forearm or leg.

• 3

  Wash your hands and the chosen test site thoroughly. Though this test is a regular part of your day, you'll still be creating a wound and you'll want to avoid any chance of infection.

• 4

  Warm up the site area to increase blood flow. You can do this by rubbing the area or running it under warm water.

• 5

  Turn on your glucose testing machine. It will tell you when it is ready with a beep.

• 6

  Insert the diabetes test strip into the testing slot on the machine. Use only the insertion point marked for the test, which is usually located at the top end of the machine.

• 7

  Wait for the ready light, reading or other indicator. It may take a few minutes for the machine to properly engage with the strip, and if you use the strip before this time you will get an incorrect reading.

• 8

  Wipe the testing site with a rubbing alcohol prep pad or alcohol-soaked cotton ball.

• 9

  Allow the alcohol to completely evaporate to avoid any contamination of the test.

• 10

  Pierce the selected test site. You can press the area slightly below the wound to encourage a droplet of blood to form.

• 11

  Apply the blood to the strip. You will want to review the instruction booklet of your particular glucose testing machine to find out which application method is correct for your machine. Some diabetes test strips require that you press the blood droplet to the strip, others ask you to allow the blood to drop onto the strip. Others still are designed to act like a straw and draw the blood up into the testing chamber by applying the tip to the blood.

• 12

  Wait for your reader. Usually the machine will notify you of the reading with a beep or other sound.

• 13

  Record your results. To maintain your health with diabetes, it is important that you keep track of your blood sugar readings in a journal or other book for easy reference.

• 14

  Clean the test site again if necessary. You can even use a small band-aid if you are still bleeding.