If you want to check your blood sugar at home, this quick tutorial will demonstrate the key steps in
If you want to check your blood sugar at home, this quick tutorial will demonstrate the key steps involved.
Before you begin, it’s important to always read and follow the glucometer’s instructions and/or your healthcare facility’s protocols. Each meter is different in the steps required to perform the procedure, including collecting the sample, using the lancing device, and whether you will need to wipe away the first drop of blood and use the second blood sample for the test.
Glucometer Preparation and Instructions
First, perform hand hygiene, and educate patient about the procedure. Instruct the patient to wash their hands with warm water (this will not only clean the hands, but the warm water will also increase circulation to the hands).
Then gather supplies. You’ll need the following:
-Lancing Device -Gloves -Alcohol prep pad -Glucometer -Lancing device and lancet -Test strips -Gauze
Steps to Take a Blood Sugar Using a Glucometer
Twist off the cap of the lancing device.
Load the lancet into the device.
Twist off the needle covering of the lancet to expose the needle.
Use the one hand scoop technique to put the cap back on the device, and twist it into place.
Adjust the puncture depth per the device’s modes. The device demonstrated in the video above had the following modes: a. 0-1: soft/delicate skin b. 2-3: normal c. 4-5: callused
Pull the plunger back on the device to spring load it, and set it aside until you are ready to use it.
Select a puncture sample site. Fingertips are most commonly used (check the device for what is allowed because some devices allow the forearm or palm of hand, etc.). However, try to use the lateral portion (side) of the fingertip. Do NOT massage it, as it could damage blood cells (hemolyze) or dilute the sample with extra fluid (plasma).
Clean the site with alcohol prep, and let it dry completely.
While it dries, prepare the glucometer for use (steps vary depending on meter device). For this device, I will insert the test strip into device. This will turn on the device, and it is now ready for the sample. Before you use the test strip, always: i. Confirm test strips are for that device, and they are NOT expired. ii. Once container of test strips are opened, they are good for 90 days (or per the instructions). iii. Immediately close the cap back onto the test strip container to keep the other strips from exposure to light and air.
Once site is completely dried, lower the finger tip down below heart level. This allows gravity to pull blood down into the fingertip so that you can collect a good sample. Again, do NOT massage the site prior to puncture.
Hold lancing device firmly against the site, depress the button to activate the needle, and then remove the device. A blood drop should appear at the surface.
To ensure a good sample is collected, you can lightly (NOT firmly) squeeze.
Note: Some meter devices may specify to wipe the first drop of blood away and use a second drop for the test. This is because it may contain the disinfectant used to clean the skin and tissue from the puncture. However, many newer models do NOT require this, so always read and follow the meter’s instructions.
Interpreting Glucometer Results
According to American Diabetes Association for adults with diabetes that are NOT pregnant, these are the following blood glucose targets:
Before a meal: 80-130 mg/dL
1-2 hours after the beginning of a meal: less than 180 mg/dL
Sources and References:
American Diabetes Association. (2023). The big picture: Checking your blood glucose. The Big Picture: Checking Your Blood Glucose | ADA. https://diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-care/checking-your-blood-sugar
Lynn, P. (2019). Unit II Promoting Healthy Physiologic Responses. In Skill checklists for Taylor’s Clinical Nursing Skills: A nursing process approach (4th ed., pp. 1033–1034). essay, Wolters Kluwer.
Perry, A. G., Potter, P. A., Ostendorf, W., & Laplante, N. (2022). Specimen Collection | Blood Glucose Monitoring. In Clinical Nursing Skills & Techniques (10th ed., pp. 218–220). essay, Elsevier.
