The following procedure is for the OneTouch® Ultra® Glucometer but is very
similar to many other glucometers.
How to Test Your Blood Glucose Level
Step 1. Always remember to wash your hands and forearms
with soap and water and dry properly before testing your blood glucose level.
Some physicians will tell you to use an alcohol swab at the test site but my
glucometer information booklet said to only wash and dry the site.
Step 2. Remove a test strip from the vial. Recap the
vial immediately. Insert the test strip into the glucometer, contact bars
end first and facing up, into the test port. Push it in until it will go
no further. The meter will turn on and the display check will appear
briefly. Then the code number will appear, followed by the "apply blood"
signal.
Step 3. Acquiring and Applying Blood Sample:
You should have received a lancing device with your glucometer. Set
this device to the correct depth for the area you are going to draw blood from.
For example, you don't need a very deep pierce if you are going to draw blood
from your fingertip. However, if you choose to draw blood from your
forearm a deeper lance setting is preferred. Load the lancet, choose your
depth setting and the site you are going to draw blood from, place the lance
firmly on the site and press the plunger.
Be sure to obtain a blood sample large enough to fill the confirmation window
on your test strip. When your glucometer appears to start counting down,
then you know you've applied enough blood. If you get an error message, then you
have not applied enough blood.
Step 4. Accurate Results Quickly:
Your blood glucose test results will appear after the meter counts down from
5 to 1. The results are stored in the glucometer's memory. Once you
get your result remove the test strip and that turns the meter off.
I find the OneTouch® Ultra® the best glucometer that I have used, out of the
many that I have tried. I always test on my forearm and it doesn't require
a large amount of blood for the accurate result. Also, you don't have sore
fingers and it doesn't hurt to test your forearm.
I was diagnosed as a type II diabetic this year and have attempted to use
many different glucometers and encountered much frustration doing so. I am
not insulin dependent. I only have to take medications. In addition,
all physicians will advise you to change your diet and to exercise to better
control your blood glucose levels.
Source: LifeScan, Inc..OneTouch® Ultra® Information Booklet. Milpitas: LifeScan, Incorporated,
2003.