Do you often check your blood sugars at home? If yes, then do remember these 10 points while checking it. Many a times it becomes difficult to frequently visit a doctor or pathologists for checking your sugars, so doing at your own keeps you up-to-date with your sugars.

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10 Points to remember while checking blood sugar at home
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Regularmonitoringofbloodglucoseisthecornerstoneofdiabetesmanagement.
Homemonitoringcanbedonewiththehelpofasimpledevice–'Glucometer'
Blood glucose meters are reliable if used properly. Some people initially find pricking the finger
uncomfortable, but the lancets(pricking needles) available today are very thin & short, making this less of
anissue.Quantityofbloodrequiredisalsoverylittle.
A small drop of blood obtained by pricking the skin of a finger is placed on a disposable stripe (which is
usuallyinsertedintheglucometerfirst).Meterreadsthestripe&calculatesbloodsugarlevelsinjustafew
seconds. Many meters now allow the blood to be drawn from alternate sites such as the arm or palm of
thehand,whichmaybemorecomfortableforsomepeople.
Followingaresomeimportantpointstorememberwhilemonitoringbloodsugarathome:
1.Checkexpirydateofthestripesbeforeusing.Old&outdatedstripesgivewrongresults.
2. Washing hands thoroughly before blood sugar checking is important. Spirit swab is not needed if hands
arewashedproperly.
3. Washing hands in warm water before pricking the finger& holding hands below the waist line make
obtainingabloodsampleeasier.
4.Prickonthesideofthefinger,nottooclosetothefingernail.
5.Lancetortheprickingneedleshouldbediscardedproperly.Sameneedleshouldnotbeusedbyanother
person.

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6. The stripe container must be closed immediately after the stripe is removed and should be stored
in a cool, dry location; away from direct sunlight.
7. Though meters save some recent reports, blood sugar level must be noted in a log book with date,
time, medication or insulin dose and food-exercise details.
8. Blood sugar level must be checked either before a meal or 2 hours later.
9. Testing frequency must be increased during illness or when activities vary from the usual routine.
10. Just checking blood sugar level won't serve any purpose. Blood sugar targets must be set in
consultation with doctors. Interpretation of blood sugar level must be correctly done & appropriate
action should be taken over the reports.
Blood sugar testing helps decision making, indicates effectiveness of therapy, determines presence of
hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels) etc. People with
diabetes who test frequently soon learn how meals, specific food, activities, medications affect their
blood glucose & thus can manage their diabetes very well.