How to Test Blood Glucose With a Glucometer

The American Diabetes Association recommends frequent blood glucose checks for diabetics who are pregnant, taking insulin or diabetes pills, having low blood glucose levels without warning signs or after high blood glucose levels, and those having a hard time controlling their glucose levels. At-home devices that test glucose are called glucometers or glucose meters. Glucometers vary depending on the manufacturer, but they are generally compact and easy to use.

Things You'll Need

• Glucometer glucose strips
• Lancet device
• Glucometer
• Gauze
• Notepad

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Instructions

• 1

  Turn on your glucometer. Determine where you are going to puncture for blood, generally the fingertip.

• 2

  Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them. Insert a glucose test strip into the glucometer.

• 3

  Pierce the side of your fingertip with the lancet device to obtain a drop of blood. The size of the blood drop needed depends on the glucometer; consult the manufacturer's manual to determine how much blood you need to apply.

• 4

  Place your fingertip at the edge of the glucose strip and hold it to allow the strip to absorb the blood drop. Wipe any excess blood away with gauze.

• 5

  Read the glucose value that appears on the glucometer display. The typical range for diabetic glucose levels are 70 to 130 mg/dL before a meal and less than 180 mg/dL after a meal.

• 6

  Record your glucose readings. It is important to write your glucose results down to monitor your condition and treatment and to discuss your plan with your doctor.