Blood sugar testing – by comparison, an IRS audit might seem like more fun. But it's an undeniable tenet of diabetes control. Results from a study of more than 5,000 people living with diabetes showed that even those who don't take medication for diabetes have better blood sugar control if they test regularly. Of course, the accuracy of your results is tied to the accuracy of your testing and understanding what all the numbers mean. "The most important point to me is that people are learning something from testing," said certified diabetes educator Sacha Uelmen, CDE, program director of the outpatient diabetes education program at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor. "Don't just look at those numbers, write them down, and move on. If you have diabetes, take an active role in your health." To get the most useful readings, learn these common blood sugar testing mistakes and how to avoid them.
Testing Your Fingertip
"The single biggest mistake people make is testing the fingertip where the nerves are located," said endocrinologist Renee Amori, MD, an assistant professor in the division of endocrinology at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia. The pad of your finger is the most sensitive spot, so testing there will hurt.
Solution for better diabetes control: Put your hands together with flat palms and fingertips pressed together. Test along the edges that are now visible. "Testing on the edges is going to be less painful because you're not going to be touching things with them," Uelmen said.
Cleaning Fingers Incorrectly
"Don't use alcohol on your fingertips because the drying action of the alcohol can hurt," said Dr. Amori. Other mistakes people make are licking their fingers to get out a test strip and not cleaning fingers at all. Whatever was in your mouth or whatever you just touched is now on your finger and likely to be picked up by the test. "If I just was eating an orange, I'll test high – I'm testing the orange, not my blood," explained Uelmen. Research published in the journal Diabetes Care showed that blood from unwashed hands had a greater than 10 percent difference in blood sugar levels between the first drop of blood and the second drop, and that error was amplified if participants' hands had recently touched fruit.
Solution for better diabetes control: For the most accurate blood sugar testing, wash hands with soap and warm water and dry thoroughly right before testing.
Using the Same Finger All the Time
People choose to use the same finger and the same spot in part because everyone has a favorite, said Uelmen, and also because calluses build up and cut down on the discomfort. But varying your fingers is better.
Solution for better diabetes control: "The goal is to use a different finger each day or each time," she said. If your blood sugar readings are generally consistent, you can even try alternate site testing, such as using the palm of your hand, if you want to get away from your fingers periodically.
Misusing Lancets and Test Strips
You need the right blood sugar testing supplies for the least pain and the most accurate results – lancets, an accurate glucose meter, and manufacturer-recommended test strips. Skimping may not offer you the payoff you're hoping for. Lancets start out very sharp but quickly get dull and will hurt if you try to re-use them, said Amori. Also, using expired or poorly stored test strips can result in inaccurate readings.
Solutions for better diabetes control: Use a fresh lancet, make sure test strips are stored in a closed container, and check the test strip expiration date before using.
Not Understanding Your Meter
Today's glucose meters are more sophisticated in their accuracy yet easier to use than ever before. Still, you need to check your meter's accuracy periodically – follow the manufacturer's instructions for doing this correctly. You also need to know the fine points on how to use it and care for it, and what the error messages mean.
Solution for better diabetes control: If you're confused about the ins and outs of your meter, ask for help from your doctor, diabetes educator, or pharmacist.
Testing Too Soon After Eating
Knowing when to test and why that information is useful will help you get better diabetes control. "Often, people will test blood sugar half an hour or an hour after they eat," said Uelmen, but this is sooner than experts recommend.
Testing too soon after you've had a meal or snack will give you results that are probably too high. Solution for better diabetes control: Wait two hours after eating to get the best reading.
If you test on a schedule without really knowing what those results are telling you, you could just be wasting test strips. You might have been given the recommendation to test once in the morning, before and after eating, and then before bed. These actually are good times to test, said Uelmen, as long as you're learning from the results and you understand why you're doing it. For instance, results taken before bed and in the morning are related, but you need to know why and how so that you can make changes if necessary.
Solutions for better diabetes control: Check in with your diabetes educator or doctor to talk about your results and what they mean. Think of testing as a way to discover how your body responds to changes in medication, diet, activity, and sleep, rather than just a routine you're required to follow.
- Last Updated: 03/29/13
- Last Updated: 03/29/13