How to Monitor Blood Sugar Levels With TPN

Total parenteral nutrition or TPN is a treatment option to provide necessary nutrition and supplements for patients unable to eat normally because of various medical conditions. TPN contains a high level of carbohydrates that can cause a spike in blood sugar if your body is not properly regulating your insulin production. Check with your doctor for your specific blood sugar target readings, and report your readings to your doctor regularly so you can adjust your management plan if necessary.

Things You'll Need

• Blood glucose meter
• Glucose test strips
• Lancets
• Lancing device
• Alcohol wipes
• Blood glucose log
• Target blood glucose readings provided by a doctor

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Instructions

• 1

  Discuss testing frequency with your doctor and be sure to test your blood sugar levels at the intervals recommended by your doctor. You should at least monitor your blood glucose while administering the TPN and two hours afterward, but your doctor may recommend more frequent testing.

• 2

  Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Dry your hands with a clean, dry towel or paper towels. Insert a test strip into your blood glucose meter. Check the code to verify that it matches the strip batch, if necessary.

• 3

  Wipe the tip of a finger with an alcohol wipe. Allow the area to dry to avoid interference with the results.

• 4

  Insert a fresh lancet into the lancing device that came with your meter and pierce your finger with the lancing device to draw a blood sample. Apply the sample to the test strip until the meter registers the sample and begins testing.

• 5

  Keep a log of your blood glucose results and add each reading to it. If your readings are outside your doctor's recommended range, consult your doctor for treatment advice or insulin dosage adjustments.