Monitoring
blood sugar levels from home is possible through the use of easy-to-perform
reagent strips and a device called a glucometer. A sample drop of blood from a fingerstick is
sufficient to obtain accurate results. The Reagent strip test is the easiest,
quickest and most convenient screening examination for people with diabetes
mellitus. Blood sugar testing not only monitors hyperglycemia, but it also detects hypoglycemia.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA)
recommends blood sugar testing 3 or more times daily for people who have
elevated blood sugar.
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Why Blood Sugar
Testing is done
·
Helps you learn
about your blood sugar levels.
·
Determines the
quantity of insulin to take before or after each meal.
·
Tells you how your
body responds to exercise, stress or disease. (Blood sugar production is affected by these factors.)
·
Detects
hypoglycemia.
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Essential
Supplies for Testing
1. A blood glucose meter or glucometer
2. Testing or reagent
strips
3. Short needles/lancets
4. Lancet device
5. Sterilized or clean cotton balls
How to Monitor
Blood Sugar at Home
During a reagent strip test, a drop of blood is
obtained from the patient using a lancet device. The end of the plastic strip
changes color -- usually to blue -- as it detects glucose in the blood. The
following are the essential steps in blood sugar monitoring:
1. Wash hands
2. Select
a puncture site. Common puncture
sites are the fingertips and earlobes for adults and heels or great toes (for
infants). The least common sites are palms and forearms.
3. If possible, dilate
capillaries by applying a warm compress for 5 minutes.
4. Wipe the puncture site using an alcohol swab and
let it dry completely.
5. Ready the lancet device
6. Pierce the skin
quickly to minimize pain.
Important: Do not squeeze the site as it can dilute the
sample with surrounding tissue fluid. Also, DO NOT prick at the tip of the finger: use the side of the finger.
7. Using a clean
cotton ball/gauze, apply pressure to the site to stop any bleeding.
8. Collect the sample through the strip and leave it
for 60 seconds.
9. Wait for the result.
10. Interpret the result.
Normal Range:80 to 126 mg/dL, or less than 5.5
mmol/L.
With regular
blood glucose testing, the site (the fingers especially) may become hardened.
To soften the area, apply lotion as needed.
Reminders when performing blood Sugar test at
home
▪
Check the expiration date of reagent
strips. Outdated strips yield inaccurate results.
▪
Keep the reagent strips away from
direct sunlight, moisture, and heat.
▪
Avoid choosing a cyanotic, swollen, or inflamed site.
▪
Do not use the same site every time.
Rotate sites.
▪
If a capillary sample is not
feasible, do a venipuncture.
▪
To determine accuracy of the test,
always write down the results.
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