How to Calibrate a Glucose Meter

Testing your blood glucose levels are essential if you are diabetic. A glucose meter allows you to monitor blood sugar levels from a droplet of blood. However, some glucose meters require a specific code to match each new vial of test strips. The code is on the vial and must be calibrated or programmed into the glucose meter. Without a matching code, blood glucose readings may not be accurate. Calibrating a glucose meter is a simple process, which requires a few steps to complete.

Things You'll Need

• Glucose meter
• Test strip vial
• Test strips

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Instructions

• 1

  Check the code. Before using your glucose meter, check the code on the test strip vial. The code number is usually in bold print.

• 2

  Insert a test strip. Most meters will turn on when you insert the test strip. Insert the test strip into the test port. Test ports are either located at the top of the meter or the bottom of the meter.

• 3

  Change the numerical code. If the code on the meter does not match the code on the vial, you must change the code. If this is the first time the meter is used, you may not have a code. Instead, the meter may have a flashing blank space.

• 4

  Set the code. Depending upon your meter, you may have up and down arrows or you may have one button. Press the required button until you have the matching numbers for the code displayed on the vial.

• 5

  Take a blood sample. Once you have calibrated the meter with the test strip code, you are ready to take a blood sample. Make sure the correct display appear on the screen for taking a blood sample. Each glucose meter display is different.