Newsletters About Diabetes 

5 EASY STEPS TO ACCURATE BLOOD SUGAR TESTING

3/4/2008
5 EASY STEPS TO ACCURATE BLOOD SUGAR TESTING

Five 5 Easy Steps to Accurate Blood Sugar Testing

As a diabetic it is critically important that you accurately test your blood sugar on a regular basis. Flowing your physicians prescribed blood sugar testing times coupled with a healthy diet and exercise will lead to good blood glucose control for the diabetic.

It is surprising to hear that so many long-term diabetic patients do not maintain good blood sugar testing regiments. Here are five (5) of the most common blood sugar testing mistakes we see on a regular basis with our diabetes patients:

1. Proper Glucose Meter Maintenance & Coding: As a diabetic patient it is important to maintain your glucose meter and keep it in top working order. Make sure that you review your instruction manual for proper maintenance. Not properly coding your glucose meter (If it is not automatic coding) is the # 1 mistake that many diabetic patients make. Always keep an eye on your battery level. Some glucose meters are known to use more batteries than others.     

2. Clean Hands / Good Hygiene: Diabetic patients should always wash their hands before testing their blood sugar. Their hands hold oils and potential contaminants that will interfere with accurate testing.  Lancets are disposable and should be changed after each blood sugar test. They will become dull and harbor germs and bacteria if used more than once.

3. Proper Control Solution Use: Control solution (fake blood) comes in the small bottle provided with your testing supplies. Control solution is provided by your diabetic supplier and is used to test the validity of your test strip NOT your meter. Make sure that you regularly test your glucose test strips with the control solution to make sure that the strips are performing properly. Also, it is important to make sure the control solution is not outdated.

4. Use Glucose Test Strips That Are Not Expired: Make sure that you are not using glucose test strips that are expired. Also it is important to make sure the test strips are not exposed to extreme heat or cold.

5. Test At The Proper Time: Diabetics generally will need to test their blood sugar before they eat (fasting blood sugar test) or 20 to 30 minutes after their meals for the most accurate results. Remember that meals high in carbohydrates will raise blood sugars significantly. Low blood sugars in the morning may indicate that you need to eat a small snack before bedtime.