Whether you do it just once a day or more times than you’d like to admit, checking your blood sugar can be a bit overwhelming when you first begin. But really, gathering up the courage to prick your finger is the hardest part of the process. Thanks to technology, the blood glucose meter does most of the work for you -- so reading the test strip is often easier than reading the nutrition label on the chocolate bar that boosted your blood sugar in the first place.
Review the digital screen on the test meter after you’ve added a drop of blood to the test strip. After analyzing the blood, the meter will automatically display the blood glucose result -- it's as simple as that.
Compare the displayed number with your blood sugar guidelines. The American Diabetes Association recommends that a person’s blood sugar ranges from 70 to 130 before a meal or less than 180 after a meal. However, your doctor might provide a more individualized range based on your lifestyle and health status.
Consult your instruction manual if an error displays on the screen. Error codes and symbols differ from one meter to the next. You might see an error if you improperly inserted the test strips or dropped too much or too little blood onto the test strip.
Things You Will Need
- Blood glucose test meter
- Blood glucose test strips
- Inspect the test trips before initiating the test -- there's no use pricking your finger if your test strips aren’t ready to rock and roll. Check the bottle for the expiration date -- expired strips can lead to incorrect results. You’ll also want to make sure your test strips are designed for use with your particular blood glucose meter. The strips shouldn’t be wet, bent or discolored.
- Always review the instruction manual included with your blood glucose meter and test strips. Although these basic instructions apply to most standard test strips, your particular product might require a few extra steps or a slightly different procedure.
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