How to Know If You Have High Blood Sugar

Do you urinate frequently, have excessive thirst or unexplained weight loss? If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or you are concerned about your blood sugar, you can test your blood sugar at home using a glucometer, or by visiting your doctor for a blood glucose test. Testing your blood sugar at home with a glucometer is quick and easy, and provides results within seconds.

Things You'll Need

• Soap and water
• Clean, dry towel
• Glucometer
• Lancettes
• Lancing device
• Test strips
• Alcohol wipes

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Instructions

• 1

  Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, and then dry them with a clean, dry towel. This ensures that there is nothing on your hands which may contaminate the blood sugar test.

• 2

  Select a new lancette and remove it from the packaging. Insert the lancette into your lancing device.

• 3

  Check your test strips to be sure that they are within their expiration date. Remove a strip and insert it into your glucometer with the blood collection end facing out.

• 4

  Select a testing site and clean it thoroughly with an alcohol wipe. Allow the alcohol to dry thoroughly before testing.

• 5

  Place the lancing device on the testing site and discharge the device. Place the lancing device aside.

• 6

  Allow a small drop of blood to flow from the test site. You may need to massage the area slightly to encourage blood flow.

• 7

  Place the blood collection end of the test strip on the test site and allow it to absorb the needed blood sample for testing. Most meters will beep when they have collected enough of a sample for testing.

• 8

  Watch your meter's display screen for a result. Most glucometers now provide a reading within seconds. A fasting blood glucose reading over 100 is considered a high reading, and a fasting blood glucose reading over 125 can be an indicator of diabetes. If you are testing after a meal, talk with your doctor to determine a target blood glucose reading to help you identify if your blood sugar is high.