How to Check Your Blood Sugar Step-by-Step (Photos)

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By apalmer
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Step-by-step blood sugar check

Are you a newly diagnosed sugar diabetes patient? If so then your doctor has probably told you how to check your sugar. In case you forgot or it didn't quite sink in...here is a step-by-step photo how-to check your blood glucose (sugar) levels.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Sugar kit
Lancets
Alcohol swabs
Testing strips
Glucose testing gel
Courage

Step 1

Sugar Test Kit

Check your glucose (sugar) test kit supplies it should have a tester, test strips, lancet pen, glucose gel (to test your tester if you think it is reading wrong), lancets, alcohol swabs and a booklet to record results if your tester doesn't store result automatically.
Step 2

Place Lancet in the Pen

The lancet goes inside the lancet pen. Remove the lid, insert the needle, twist off the top of the needle and lay the plastic tip down until you are finished.
Step 3

Set the pens power

Replace the lid and set the level you want the needle to poke. If you have thin skin select a low setting, if you have thicker skin move the notch up. You may have to experiment a few times, but you will figure it out.
Step 4

Test Strips

These are your test strips, remove one from the package and insert into the tester.
Step 5

It codes the test strip

The glucose meter (test kit) has a code that will appear wait for that to go away before proceeding. It is loading information much like a computer.
Step 6

Numbers will count down 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and Apply Blood will appear. Now your tester is ready for your drop of blood.
Step 7

Tear open the alcohol wipe

Next, tear the individual alcohol cleaning pad or dab alcohol on a cotton ball and clean your fingertip well. Choose any finger and try not to use the same one all the time. In time, it will be second nature and you won't think a thing about it anymore.
Step 8

Keep it clean!

Let the alcohol dry a couple seconds, if you touch anything on that spot other than the lancet, clean it again. You don't want to give yourself an infection or blood poisoning.
Step 9

Prick slightly off center!

Cock the trigger on the lancet pen. Start on a low trigger setting so you can see what it right for you. I suggest you always prick the fingertip a little off the center tip, there is a nerve in the center/center tip of your finger and that owies. (Take a deep breath, if it's your first time.) Apply a little pressure and click the tigger. (Be brave! It is scary at first, but not bad once you do it.)
Step 10

Blood drop here

If the trigger setting worked and you see a drop of blood then you are fine. If not adjust the trigger setting higher and try again. Be sure to wipe the tip of your finger and the pen again. Place the drop of blood on the tip of the test strip and wait for it to be read in the machine.
Step 11

Record results

Record the reading in your computerized tester or write it down in a booklet. (Or both.) If you have a high reading then you will know based on the results if you need insulin and how much.
Step 12

Contain the trash safely

Dispose of contaminated alcohol pad, needle, and trash. Stick the needle into the plastic tip that you removed from the lancet. This will keep others from getting poked. Place everything in a container and label it biohazard/diabetic waste. Tape the lid shut when it is full. It is best to use a metal or plastic coffee can and make sure the trash man knows you have biohazard materials to dump.