What's the Highest a Glucometer Will Read

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One of the near valuable tools that a diabetic can have is an at-home blood sugar reader, otherwise known equally a glucometer. This mitt-held machine allows diabetics to monitor the amount of glucose in the claret, which helps in determining what food you tin can eat and how well whatsoever medication y'all are on is working, as well equally how much insulin you lot may need to inject. Obtaining and properly using a glucometer at dwelling house tin can make diabetic care simpler and can assist you to keep track of your claret sugars over fourth dimension.

1. 1

   Obtain a glucometer and test strips. You tin can go to whatever drugstore and buy a claret sugar testing kit. Most kits incorporate lancets (testing needles), a lancing device, testing strips, and a meter to read the results.

   • Many insurance companies will pay for your meter and examination strips if yous obtain a prescription from your doctor.

2. 2

   Read the materials and directions that come with your meter. Familiarize yourself with all the functions of your blood glucose meter, how much blood is required for testing, where you lot insert your examination strip, and where the readout will be. Expect at the pictures and read the instructions thoroughly, and if you lot have any questions or concerns and then contact your doctor before trying to utilize the machine.^[1]

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3. 3

   Examination the glucometer earlier using information technology. Most glucometers include a style to test to brand sure they are reading correctly. This could be in the course of a premade test strip or a liquid you place on a test strip. These are inserted into the auto and the reading should be within acceptable limits, which the education manual will provide.^[2]

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1. 1

   Make clean your hands and sampling surface area. Apply hot h2o and soap to wash your hands.^[3] Clean the finger you're going to prick with an booze swab, or with rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball. Booze evaporates rapidly so in that location's no need to dry the expanse; that will just recontaminate it. Allow the alcohol air dry.

   • Make sure your fingertips are warm. If they're too cold, it'll be hard for you to describe a blood sample. Using hot water when you wash your hands will aid.
   • Most glucometers instruct you lot to prick your finger for a sample, but some of the newer blood glucose meters allow you use an area on your arm. Determine which of these areas is adequate for your meter. In general, a finger prick is the most accurate. Alternative sites are okay to use when blood glucose is stable, only not when potentially changing chop-chop, such as after eating or exercising, or when hypoglycemic or ill.^[4]

2. 2

   Get together the device. Insert a test strip into the glucometer, ensuring your insert the proper end inward. Insert a lancet into the lancing device you apply to prick your finger.^[v]

   • Glucometers may differ in when you lot insert the test strip. Usually it is inserted in lodge to plough the machine on, but sometimes you have to put the blood on the strip and then insert information technology into the motorcar. Make sure you know which way your glucometer works before you prick your finger.

3. 3

   Expect for the glucometer to prompt you for a sample. A readout on the glucometer will tell yous to put the drib of claret on the strip. The readout may actually say "identify sample on strip," or information technology may requite you a symbol, such as an icon that looks like a droplet of liquid.^[6]

4. 4

   Test your blood sample. Prick your finger with the lancing device. This usually causes no, or very minimal, discomfort. You may demand to squeeze or massage the finger you pricked on either side to squeeze out a drop of blood. Let the claret form a small bead on your finger. Hold the bead of blood to touch the tip of the strip at the right place, which should exist indicated on the strip.^[vii]

   • Some people find it more than comfy to prick the side of the finger close to the fingernail, rather than the pad of the finger – at that place are fewer nerve endings on the side, making information technology a less sensitive surface area.
   • If you observe it hard or painful to prick your finger, information technology may help to rinse your mitt in warm h2o for a minute or two and so allow your hand to dangle at your side for another minute. This gets blood flowing to your fingers. Exercise this before y'all wash your hands with soapy h2o and use alcohol to clean the finger y'all're going to prick.
   • If you're not taking insulin, you can try taking a sample from your forearm instead. Nevertheless, this may non exist as accurate as using your fingertip.
   • The newer strips offer a "wicking" action that will draw the blood upwards into the test strip. Older meters and strips require yous to actually driblet blood onto the strip.

5. five

   Wait for your results. The glucometer will first to count down in seconds until your results are ready to read. Newer glucometers only have about 5 seconds, whereas older versions may have x to 30 seconds. The meter volition sound a tone, or beep, when it has a reading for y'all.

6. 6

   Read the results. The results will bear witness upwardly on the digital screen of your glucometer. Results will vary depending on what time of day it is, how recently you ate, and what you ate. At that place is no single proficient result for every person. You should discuss your diabetes with your healthcare provider and set goals for your blood sugar.^[viii]

   • Ever use new strips that are made for use with your device. Additionally, make sure yous test at the temperature recommended past your device manufacturer. Using former strips or testing your blood carbohydrate nether very cold or hot conditions could cause an error with your device.

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1. ane

   Create a system to help you lot call back to do your readings. You lot and your doctor will make a programme for how often and at what times you should use your glucometer to check your blood sugar. Sometimes this should be done 3 times every day. It might exist hard to remember this, especially at first, but creating a organization to help you recall can get y'all into the habit.^[9]

   • If your claret sugar is nether control and y'all're not using insulin, you only need to examination your fasting blood sugar in the forenoon 2 to 3 times per week. If your blood sugar isn't controlled and y'all're not on insulin, test your blood carbohydrate i to three times per day to rail your highs.
   • If yous're taking insulin, test your claret sugar 3 to five times per twenty-four hour period in the morning, after meals, and before bed. You might talk to your medico about using a newer device that doesn't crave finger pricking and instead syncs to your telephone.
   • Brand a log that you lot accept to check off for morning, afternoon, and evening. Put information technology on your refrigerator or bathroom mirror – somewhere that you look often throughout the day. Check off the boxes as you go.
   • Be creative. Endeavour keeping three small stones in your right pocket. As you practise a reading, move a stone to your left pocket. By the end of the solar day you should take all stones in your left pocket. This can be a tangible reminder to do your readings. Come up up with something that works for yous!

2. 2

   Continue a record of your results. Some diabetic glucose meters will store the readings for yous in their on-board memory. With others, you will have to write your results down. Make certain you note the day, time and type of reading. For instance, was the reading taken first matter in the morning? This is known as a fasting reading. Was it taken 2 hours after a repast? This is known equally a two-hr postprandial reading.^[10]

3. 3

   Bring your record to your doctor visits. Bring your glucometer with y'all every time you see the doctor who takes care of your diabetes. If it stores your results, they tin access them directly. If your machine does not store your results, be sure to bring your written record with you. Bring your glucometer, besides, so your doctor can bank check to ensure information technology is working properly at every visit.^[11]

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• Do not reuse lancets or exam strips. Both of these items are meant for one-time usage.

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Things You'll Need

• Diabetic glucometer
• Test strips
• Lancets
• Alcohol
• Cotton balls
• Newspaper and pencil (if your meter does not automatically store your results)

About This Article

Article Summary 10

To apply a glucometer, start by washing your hands and turning the device on by inserting a test strip. When prompted, prick your finger with a lancing device and squeeze a drop of blood onto the tip of the strip. Later the glucometer beeps, read the results, which will vary depending on the fourth dimension of day, the terminal time you ate, and what yous ate. Finally, discuss your results with your md to manage your claret carbohydrate if necessary. For more tips from our Medical reviewer, similar how to keep track of your readings, scroll downwards!

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Glucometer

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