How to Test Glucose Level

A blood glucose test determines how much sugar, or glucose, is in your blood. Checking your glucose levels is especially important for people who have diabetes. An average person should aim for a range of 80 to 140 mg/dl, while a pregnant woman should aim for a range of 60 to 120 mg/dl. Your doctor can check your blood levels at his office, or you can check your own levels at home with a blood glucose meter. Here's how to do it at home.

Things You'll Need

• Lancet device
• Glucometer
• Test strips
• Alcohol swab

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Wash your hands thoroughly using warm water and soap. The warm water will not only kill germs, but it will also help the blood flow faster and easier from the finger.

• 2

  Set up your lancet device. The lancet device is what holds the needle that pricks your skin. Place a clean needle into your lancet device. Adjust the setting of the needle for your skin. Normally the needle setting will be at three or four. That is usually high enough to draw blood from the finger.

• 3

  Set up your glucometer. Put a test to strip into the glucometer. The test strip should be located either at the top or the bottom of your meter.

• 4

  Use an alcohol swab on the part of the finger you are going to draw blood from. If you have a newer glucometer, you may be able to draw blood from the legs, the arms or the finger. The finger is still the best area to draw blood from, as it gives the most accurate readings.

• 5

  Prick your finger with the needle in the lancet device. For better blood flow, massage the area you are pricking, so the blood rises easier to the surface. Cock the lancet device, place it against your finger, and push the button.

• 6

  Withdraw your blood with the meter test strip. Place the test strip against the drop of blood, so that the blood can be drawn into it. You should only have to wait five seconds until you receive a blood glucose reading.

• 7

  Write down the results of your glucose test. Write down your glucose levels every time you perform a test.