Home Blood Sugar Testing
Everyone with
diabetes should test their blood sugar levels regularly. Knowing the results
lets you adjust your strategy for keeping the disease in check.
Regular
testing can also help you avoid getting long-term health problems that can stem
from the condition. Research shows that in people with either type 1 diabetes
or type 2 diabetes, sticking to your target blood sugar and HbA1c levels makes
complications less likely.
Ways to Test Your Blood Sugar
Traditional
Home Glucose Monitoring
You prick
your finger with a small, sharp needle called a lancet, put a drop of blood on
a test strip, and then place the strip into a meter that displays your blood
sugar levels.
Meters vary
in features, portability, speed, size, cost, and readability (with larger
displays or spoken instructions if you have vision problems). Devices deliver results
in less than 15 seconds and store this information for future use.
Some meters
also calculate an average blood sugar level over a span of time. Some also
feature software kits that take information from the meter and display graphs
and charts of your past test results. Blood sugar meters and strips are
available at your local pharmacy.
Meters That Test Other Parts of Your
Body
Some devices
let you test your upper arm, forearm, base of the thumb, and thigh.
These results
may differ from the blood sugar levels gotten from a fingertip stick. Levels in
the fingertips show changes more quickly. This is especially true when your
sugar is changing fast, like after a meal or after exercise.
If you have
symptoms of low blood sugar, don’t rely on test results from other parts of
your body.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring System
Some of these
devices are combined with insulin pumps. They're not as accurate as
finger-stick glucose results. But they can help you find patterns and trends in
your sugar levels. You may also hear doctors call these “interstitial glucose
measuring devices.”
When Should I
Test My Blood Sugar?
Each person
is different. Your doctor will tell you when and how often you should check
your levels.
If you use
insulin more than once a day or use an insulin pump, experts recommend checking
your blood sugar at least three times daily.
What Can
Affect My Results?
They may not
be accurate if you have anemia or gout. If it’s hot, humid, or you’re at a high
altitude, that can interfere with the results, too. So can Vitamin C.
If you
consistently see results that aren’t expected, recalibrate your meter and check
the strips.
The chart
below shows you the ideal blood sugar ranges for most adults except for
pregnant women. Your ideal range may be different from another person's and
will change throughout the day, so check with your doctor for your targets.
|
Time of
Test |
Ideal
for Adults With Diabetes |
|
Before a
meal |
70-130
mg/dL |
|
1 to 2
hours after beginning a meal |
Less than
180 mg/dL |
Home Blood
Sugar Monitoring and HbA1c
Checking your
HbA1c level is also important. Many home glucose monitors can display an
average blood sugar reading, which correlates to the HbA1c test.
How to
Test Your Blood Sugar at Home
Follow these
steps:
- Wash and dry your hands well.
- Insert a test strip into your meter.
- Prick the side of your fingertip with the lancet provided with your test kit.
- Gently squeeze or massage your finger until a drop of blood forms.
- Touch and hold the edge of the
test strip to the drop of blood.
- The meter will display your blood
glucose level on a screen after a few seconds.
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