Steps on Taking Blood Glucose Readings

If you have diabetes, you may need to measure your blood glucose level to determine whether it's in the normal range or not. Your health care provider can assess you and, depending on the type of diabetes you have and any drug you're using to treat it, tell you when and how often you should measure your levels. She can also advise you on how to adjust any medication you're taking should your blood glucose readings show your glucose level is significantly higher or lower than it should be.

Things You'll Need

• Blood glucose meter
• Test strip
• Lancet
• Cotton ball or pad
• Pen or pencil
• Notebook or logbook

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Instructions

• 1

  Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. Gather your blood glucose meter, test strip and lancet, and place them on the table in front of you.

• 2

  Insert the test strip into the meter. Check the face of the meter to ensure that the test strip is engaged. See the package insert that came with your meter for details on how to insert a test strip in your model. Remove any safety cap from the lancet.

• 3

  Grasp the lancet in your dominant hand and place it against your finger. Prick your finger with the lancet. It's best to do this on the side of your finger, next to the fingernail, and not on the padded part of your fingertip. Your fingertips get more use in daily tasks and may get tender.

• 4

  Massage your finger from its base to the tip until a generous drop of blood appears at the site of the prick. Meters have varying requirements for the amount of blood that is necessary to get a reading. See your package insert for details on your model.

• 5

  Hold the test strip (still inserted in the meter) lightly against the drop of blood. The test strip will absorb the blood. Once completed, use a cotton ball or pad to apply pressure to your finger at the site of the puncture to staunch any bleeding.

• 6

  Read the blood glucose measurement on the display of the meter. Record the date, time of day and meter reading in a notebook or logbook. Remove the test strip from the meter and discard it.