When should you check your blood sugar?  

• When you wake up 

• Before meals  

• Two hours after eating 

• Before bedtime 

You will need the following equipment: 

• Glucose test strips 

• Lancet (Needle) 

• Glucometer 

• Alcohol swap (optional) 

• Clean tissue (optional) 

  

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Steps[3]:

1. Gather equipment 

2. Wash and dry hand and the site that will be used for the test. 

3. Prime lancet (Needle). Do not prime the lancet more than 2.0 mm as this is a risk for bone injury 

4. Insert glucose test trip in glucometer *Make sure not to touch the sensor tip* 

5. Firmly Apply lancet to the desired site for blood collection 

6. Release the trigger on the lancet to pierce the skin 

7. Wipe away the first drop of blood with clean gauze or tissue 

8. If necessary, apply gentle downward pressure to the puncture site to facilitate blood flow. 

9. Touch the tip of the glucose test trip to the site of the blood drop to collect the sample. 

10. Place the glucometer down on an open surface and cover the site of skin puncture with clean gauze or tissue. Pressure may need to be held for a few seconds to minutes to stop bleeding from the puncture site. 

11. Check machine for result level. 

12. Wash hands and put away equipment 

 

An Error message may occur if: 

• The sample is mixed with other fluid 

• Battery in the machine is low 

• The machine timed out

Recommendations for puncture sites

• The recommended site for checking your blood sugar is at the tip of the fingers, on the side [1] [2]

• Avoid the little finger due to the tissue not being deep enough to prevent injury to the bone

                                                                                                                                     

                   

                                                                                                                                             References

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1. Heenan, H., Lunt, H., Chan, H., & Frampton, C. M. (2017). Capillary samples and hemolysis: Further considerations. Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, 11(4), 847–848. https://doi.org/10.1177/1932296817700921

 

2. Lenicek Krleza, J., Dorotic, A., Grzunov, A., & Maradin, M. (2015). Capillary blood sampling: National recommendations on behalf of the croatian society of medical biochemistry and laboratory medicine. Biochemia Medica, 25(3), 335–358. https://doi.org/10.11613/bm.2015.034

 

3. Weinstock, R. S. (2019). Patient education: Self-monitoring of blood sugar in diabetes (beyond the basics) (D. M. Nathan & J. E. Mulder, Eds.). UpToDate. Retrieved November 9, 2020, from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/self-monitoring-of-blood-sugar-in-diabetes-beyond-the-basics