Blood glucose testing is

important for you to reach your

goals!

Why?

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Steps to Monitoring Blood

Glucose
1.

2.

3.
4.

5.

6.
7.

Gather all supplies:

Alcohol pads, single-use lancets,
blood glucose strips, glucose meter,
and notepad to record entries.
Wash hands. (Warm water helps
with blood flow) (Lippincott
Procedures, 2015).
Turn on the meter and prepare
blood glucose strips
Choose a spot on the side of any
fingertip to puncture with the
single-use lancet (Do not use the
same finger every time, rotate each
time to the next finger. Do not use
the same lancet each time- dispose
after each use).
Check blood sugar by placing the
lancet to the finger and pressing the
button.
Apply the blood sample to the
blood glucose strip.
Wait for reading and record.

You will have a better

understanding on analyzing the
results. Blood glucose monitoring
provides feedback on how diet,
medications, and/or insulin are
working for your body (Diabetes
Self-Management, 2015).

Blood glucose testing is useful

for testing how many different
meals and activities affect your
blood glucose levels (Diabetes
Digital Media Ltd, 2015).

MANAGI
NG
YOUR
DIABETE
S
MANAGING
YOUR DIABETES
Hampton Roads, VA

Katherine Sheppard,
RN-BC

According to the American

Diabetes Association target
glycemic goals include:
*Before eating: 80-130 mg/dl

When is the best time to monitor

blood sugars?
Type 1 Diabetes
You should monitor your blood
sugar a minimum of four times a day
before each meal and before bed
(American Diabetes Association,
2015).
Type 2 Diabetes:
You should monitor blood sugar two
times a day if possible.

It is also important to check

blood glucose when ill or
stressed.
If you are not taking insulin it
is important to monitor your
HbA1c at lease every 6
months with your primary
care physician.

*1-2 hours after eating

(Postprandial): less than 180
mg/dl (American Diabetes
Association, 2015).

References
American Diabetes Association.
(2015). Checking Your Blood
Glucose. Retrieved from
http://www.diabetes.org/livin
g-with-diabetes/treatmentand-care/blood-glucosecontrol/checking-your-bloodglucose.html
Diabetes Self-Management. (2015,
May 21). Blood Sugar
Monitoring: When to Check
and Why. Retrieved from
http://www.diabetesselfmanag
ement.com/managingdiabetes/blood-glucosemanagement/blood-glucosemonitoring-when-to-checkand-why/
Lippincott Procedures. (2015, April
3). Blood glucose monitoring.
Retrieved from
http://procedures.lww.com/ln
p/view.do?
pId=654043&hits=diabetes,m
onitoring&a=false&ad=false