How To Test

First, make sure you have the following supplies at hand. (For more information on particular supplies and brand names, see the American Diabetes Association Buyer's Guide to Diabetes Supplies published every October in Diabetes Forecast magazine.)

• lancet (blood-letting device)
• clean test strip
• cotton ball or tissue
• a watch or other timer
• a blood glucose meter or color chart for determining blood glucose level

To test your blood glucose level, follow these steps. (Check the manufacturer's directions for your particular blood glucose meter.)

• Make sure your hands are clean and dry. Any soap or lotion on your hands can cause inaccurate test results.
• Using the lancet, puncture the skin of a finger, toe, or earlobe. Most people use the side of a finger.
• Squeeze out a large drop of blood.
• Let the drop fall onto the pad of a test strip (or onto the sensor if your meter already has the test strip inside it). Wait the instructed amount of time for the test strip to develop.
• Wipe excess blood from the test strip, if the manufacturer's instructions say to do so. Then insert the test strip into the meter. With some meters, it is not necessary to wipe off the blood and a smaller drop of blood will do.
• Dispose of the lancet safely.
• Record your numbers.

Information from the book The Diabetes Problem Solver written by Nancy Touchette, Ph.D. and available from the American Diabetes Association.