How to measure blood sugar at home?

As part of diabetes self-management, self-blood sugar monitoring can help diabetics better understand their blood sugar management status and guide the adjustment of lifestyle and drug treatment plans. So what are the precautions for blood sugar monitoring? There are some things to pay attention to when measuring blood sugar. If you make a mistake, it will be a waste of time!

1. Monitoring time

Is fasting blood sugar measured before eating three meals?

That is, "pre-breakfast blood sugar" refers to the blood sugar measured before breakfast the next day after fasting overnight (excluding drinking water) for 8 to 12 hours, but blood sugar before lunch and dinner is not included. It is best to measure fasting blood sugar between 6:00 and 8:00 in the morning.

Does 2 hours after a meal mean 2 hours after eating?

It refers to the 2 hours starting from the time you take your first bite of food.

2. Monitoring precautions

What disinfectant should be selected for blood sugar measurement?

Diabetics should wash their hands before blood collection, remove food residues on their fingers, and ensure that their fingers are completely dry. Residual moisture will dilute the blood sample and affect the effect.

It is recommended to use 75% alcohol for disinfection when drawing blood, and wait until the alcohol evaporates completely before testing blood sugar to avoid alcohol diluting the blood. If iodine or iodine tincture is used for disinfection, it may react with the oxidase on the test paper, resulting in a high test result.

What precautions should be taken when drawing blood?

It is recommended to wipe off the first drop of blood with a clean cotton swab and place the second drop of blood on the designated area of ​​the test strip. Do not squeeze the blood collection site, otherwise it will affect the test results.

The commonly used blood collection sites are the sides of the middle finger or ring finger.

Does the blood glucose meter need to be calibrated?

It needs to be calibrated regularly. If your blood glucose meter is equipped with calibration fluid, you can calibrate it yourself. If it is not equipped with calibration fluid, you can contact the manufacturer's customer service. You can also send the blood glucose meter to a nearby measurement agency for calibration.