If you’ve noticed a difference in your blood sugar readings and want to learn more, here are some tips to make sure that your measurements are accurate.
1. Get Your Hands Ready
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water.
- Make sure your hands are completely dry, using a CLEAN cloth or let them air-dry. Moist hands may dilute the blood sample.
- Don’t apply creams: lotion, hand cream, and other substances may contain sugar and leave a residue on your finger, causing an inaccurate reading.
2. Choose the Appropriate Time Period in the App
- Check the “fasting” blood sugar (BG) on an empty stomach.
- Check “pre meal” BG before the first bite of a meal; and “post meal” BG 2 hours after the first bite.
3. Take a Measurement
- Use the lancets and test strips properly.
- Lancets are one-time use. Discard after each use.
- Hold the middle of the test strip to avoid touching the tip.
- Get your blood sample right.
- Gently massage from the bottom of the palm or finger to get the blood out.
- Avoid squeezing finger to get more blood sample out of puncture site.
- Make sure your blood sample is a nice round drop, not a smear.
- 1 drop of blood is only good for 1 test - the blood properties change after contact with the skin and air.
4. Store the Test Strips Properly
- Throw away the expired test strips.
- When you open the test strips, write the date on the bottle.
- Strips expire 5 months after opening, if stored properly.
- Avoid heat, air and moisture.
- Close the lid tightly.
- Store in a cool, clean and dry place.
You should be able to get an accurate reading by following the tips above then! To learn more about factors that may affect the blood sugar readings, read this article.