Path to better health
What supplies do I need?
For background music, you will need a glucose meter, alcohol wipes, sterile finger lancets (small needles), and sterile test strips. A CGM comes as a complete assembly, including a sensor, a transmitter, and a receiver or reader.
How do I choose a glucose meter?
Your doctor will make a recommendation. Check with your health insurance plan to see if it will pay for your BGM, your supplies, or a CGM. If so, your plan may only pay for a certain meter.
Shop around and compare costs. Consider what features are important to you. For example, some meters are made for people with vision problems. If you want to pay a little more money, you can get a BGM that stores the results in its memory. This allows you to compare results from multiple days at a time.
How do I measure my blood sugar level?
Follow your doctor’s advice and the instructions that come with the BGM or CGM. Different meters work differently, so be sure to check with your doctor for advice specific to you. With background music, you will usually follow the steps below:
- Wash your hands and dry them well before taking the test.
- Use an alcohol pad to clean the area you are going to puncture. For most glucose meters, you will prick your fingertip. However, with some meters you can also use the forearm, thigh or the fleshy part of the hand. Ask your doctor which area you should use your meter.
- Prick yourself with a sterile lancet to get a drop of blood. (If you prick the pad of your finger, it may be easier and less painful to prick it on the side, not the pad.)
- Place the drop of blood on the test strip.
- Follow the instructions to insert the test strip into your glucose meter.
- The meter will give you a number of your blood sugar level.
If you have a CGM, you will follow the insertion instructions that come with the monitor. Once warmed up, the transmitter sends the data wirelessly to your computer or smartphone.
What if I can’t get a drop of blood for a finger stick?
If you want to get blood from your fingertip, try washing your hands with hot water to get the blood flowing. Then place your hand under your heart for one minute. Prick your finger quickly and then place your hand back under your heart. You can also try slowly squeezing your finger from the base to the tip.
How often should I test my blood sugar level?
Your GP will recommend how often you should be tested. Testing times are based on the type of medication you take and how well your blood sugar levels are controlled. You will probably need to check your blood sugar more frequently at first. You will also check it more often when you feel sick or stressed, when your medication changes, or if you are pregnant.
What do I do with the results?
You need to track your results. There are a few ways to do this. You can write them down in a log book. Use a small notebook or ask your doctor for a blood test log book. Depending on the type of monitor you have, you may be able to track the results on your computer or smartphone. Whichever method you use, you may also want to track what you’ve eaten, when you took medication or insulin, and how active you’ve been during the day. This will help you see how these factors affect your blood sugar level. Talk to your doctor about what is a good range for your blood sugar level and what to do if your blood sugar level is not within that range.
