Recommended finger: the World Health Organisation recommends the middle or ring fingers are used for blood glucose tests (second and third fingers). You may want to avoid using your little finger due to the skin being thin.
It does not matter which finger is used for glucose measurements. External pressure may lead to unreliable readings.
Finger prick blood glucose readings and sensor glucose readings won't always match and in fact are likely to be different. That's because sensor glucose readings come from the interstitial fluid (ISF), a thin layer of fluid that surrounds the cells of the tissues below your skin, not from your blood.
Squeezing your finger
When you do that, you are getting some interstitial fluid rather than blood. A study shows that this “may lead to unreliable readings." Gently warming the hands ahead of time can help so you don't have squeeze so hard.
Wipe away the first droplet of blood with a cotton ball or gauze as indicated. Rationale: The first drop of blood may be contaminated with the alcohol used for disinfection, which may provide an inaccurate result.
A commonly asked question is “Why do my testing results vary meter to meter?” The answer simplified is that meters are tested for accuracy and must adhere to Self-Testing Blood Glucose Monitoring System ISO standard and US guidance, and can only vary by 15 percent compared to reference method.
Too much food, like a meal or snack with more carbohydrates than usual. Dehydration. Not being active. Not enough insulin or oral diabetes medications.
Target blood sugar levels differ for everyone, but generally speaking: if you monitor yourself at home – a normal target is 4-7mmol/l before eating and under 8.5-9mmol/l two hours after a meal.
The lancets are only ever used once. Some types of “lancet holders” are designed to be used to test more than one person, while others are meant to be used to test only one person.
Although blood from the fingertip most accurately reflects changes in venous glucose levels, numerous nerve endings there may make testing painful and repeated sticks can lead to local tissue damage.
The dawn phenomenon leads to high levels of blood sugar, a condition called hyperglycemia. It usually happens between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m.
A significant finding of the study was glucose readings were significantly higher in the right arm compared to the left arm. Volunteers were alerted to having low blood glucose 30 percent of the time on the left arm, in comparison to 22 percent of the time on the right arm.
What should your blood sugar be when you wake up? Whenever possible, aim to keep your glucose levels in range between 70 and 130 mg/dL in the morning before you eat breakfast, and between 70 and 180 mg/dL at other times.
To get an accurate reading, check your blood sugar level in 10-15 minutes of waking up in the morning. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before you test – any contaminant can cause inaccuracies. Avoid any caffeinated beverages before you test because it can lead to a spike in blood sugar.
The best finger to get blood from is your ring finger. When performing a finger-prick test, use the side of your ring finger. It is where circulation is at its peak, and you are more likely to collect a complete sample from this one finger.
Some people with diabetes use their insulin syringes and lancets more than once to save money. But makers of syringes and lancets do not recommend using them more than once.
Officially, all lancets are single use.
Usual times to test your blood sugar are before meals and at bedtime. Your provider may ask you to check your blood sugar 2 hours after a meal or even sometimes in the middle of the night. Ask your provider when you should check your blood sugar.
Results are interpreted as follows: Less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L ) after two hours is considered healthy. 140 to 199 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L and 11.0 mmol/L ) is diagnosed as prediabetes. 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L ) or higher after two hours suggests diabetes.
In general: Less than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L ) is normal. 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L ) is diagnosed as prediabetes. 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L ) or higher on two separate tests is diagnosed as diabetes.
For most people without diabetes, normal blood sugar levels are: between 4 and to 6 mmol/L before meals. less than 8 mmol/L two hours after eating.
For a fasting blood sugar test, do not eat or drink anything other than water for at least 8 hours before the blood sample is taken. If you have diabetes, you may be asked to wait until you have had your blood tested before you take your morning dose of insulin or diabetes medicine.
Just 2 minutes of walking after eating can help blood sugar, study says.
Why Skipping Meals Is Harmful to Diabetes. Skipping meals isn't the best diet plan for anyone, but for people with diabetes, skipping a meal can lead to immediately dangerous blood sugar swings, as well as potential complications down the road.