Diabetes Education Center
Tips for Self-Testing
Sections:
Tips for testing and managing your diabetes:
To perform your blood glucose test:
Suggested Self-testing Times and Goals
Tips for testing and managing your diabetes:
- It is a good idea to record all your results in log book.
Click to view a sample log.
- Don’t worry if you have some readings out of range. Your treatment plan is working if at least half of your readings are in range.
- Always bring your log sheets or log book with you when you visit your physician.
To perform your blood glucose test:
- Wash hands with soap and warm water to clean and increase circulation in hands.
- Dry hands before testing.
- Shake hands down to get more blood in hands.
- Place lancet firmly against the side of your finger, being careful to not using the pad or fingertip.
- Massage or “milk” finger toward tip after you stick your finger for larger drop of blood.
- Alternate fingers and sides of fingers, using all ten including thumbs.
- Keep your test strips dry, covered, and in packing until you are ready to perform a test.
- Store equipment at room temperature, avoiding extreme temperatures and moist areas.
- Check supplies for the expiration date and do not use if they are expired.
- Dispose of lancets properly (ask your pharmacist).
- Do a control test on your monitor every time you open a new container of strips, drop the monitor, or if you get a strange reading that does not seem right to you.
- Check expiration of control solution. Control solution is generally only good for three months after you open it.
- Clean your monitor with a damp cloth and do not use alcohol.
Suggested Self-testing Times and Goals
When should I test my blood glucose?
This testing schedule is most appropriate for anyone with type 2 diabetes on oral medication. Also, it is very important to regularly chart your blood glucose levels. Click here to get a sample diabetes log.
- First thing in the morning before you have anything to eat or drink. (This is called fasting, or abstaining from eating or in some cases drinking overnight for a person with diabetes.)
- Before your largest meal of the day
- Two hours after the first bite of the largest meal of the day
What is the target range for my blood glucose?
- Your blood glucose should be within the 70 - 130 mg/dl range after fasting and before meals.
- Your blood glucose should be less than 180 mg/dl two hours after the start of meals.
When should I notify my physician?
- Call your doctor if your blood glucose is greater than 250 for two days in row.
- Call your doctor if you notice that more than half of your blood glucose readings are out of the target ranges.
What should I do if my blood glucose is suddenly out of range?
- Think about changes in your diet or normal schedule that would cause your blood glucose to be out of range and make note of it on your log sheet or log book.
Pay special attention to your blood glucose around that same time for the next few days to see if there is a pattern.
