Why is a Fingertip More Accurate for Blood Glucose Monitoring?

Blood glucose monitoring is an important tool for checking diabetes control. By monitoring a measurement of your blood sugar at any given point in time, you have a good record of how your body is responding to your diabetes care plan.

The Facts

• The American Diabetes Association recommends monitoring blood glucose if you are taking insulin or other forms of diabetes medication or if you are having a hard time controlling your blood glucose levels. The fingertip is the most frequently used site for blood glucose monitoring.

Other Testing Sites

• Most glucose meters work by testing a drop of blood taken by pricking a fingertip with a lancing device. Some glucose meters allow testing from other sites such as the forearm, upper arm, thigh or fleshy part of the hand.

Why the Fingertip

• Blood from the fingertip provides the most accurate blood glucose readings. The fingertip shows changes in the blood more quickly than other parts of the body.

Alternative Sites

• Alternative sites are chosen by some diabetics because they are less painful than the fingertips. But results from alternative sites are not as accurate as the fingertips, especially when blood sugar is rising or falling rapidly.

Considerations

• Readings from alternative sites may be different than fingertips when glucose levels are changing rapidly, such as after a meal or exercise. It is important to use samples taken from the fingertip if you think your blood sugar is low, or if test results from an alternative site don’t agree with how you feel.