Thoroughly wash and dry your hands. Then either massage a finger to encourage blood flow or gently shake your hands at your sides. Avoid using your index finger or thumb as these are the digits you use most frequently. Prick the side of the fingertip with a lancing device such as Accu-Chek Softclix or Accu-Chek Multiclix. Press your finger gently to encourage a small drop of blood to form.

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Controlling your blood glucose level is a very important part of managing diabetes. Regularly testing your blood glucose help measure the effectiveness of your meal plan, physical activity and medications. Your health care professional will recommend a testing regime that is right for your circumstances.

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No. In contrast to former recommendations, it is not necessary to discard the first drop of blood and use only the second one for glucose monitoring. There is no significant difference in blood glucose values measured with the first and the second drop. However, any contamination of the fingertip with dirt or liquids (sweat, fruit juice, etc.) may affect glucose readings. Clean and dry fingertips are key when measuring blood glucose.

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Yes- but be gentle! Blood can be sampled by gently squeezing the fingertip (the tissue is pressed together and blood is forced out of the incision), since it minimises lancing pain (shallower penetration) and reduces the risk of scarring. Squeezing the fingertip does not significantly dilute capillary blood with ‘tissue water’.

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If you or someone you care for has type 1 diabetes or is taking insulin, you will probably know that complications may arise if blood glucose levels are too high or too low. Ketones are the waste products produced when your body breaks down fatty acids for energy. Toxic ketone levels can build up and spill into urine.

Minor illnesses like catching a cold, tonsillitis and common infections (e.g. ear or urinary tract infections) can place extra stress on your body. During this time, your body may need more insulin to keep blood glucose levels under control. It may be difficult to tell how an illness can affect your blood glucose levels.

Sometimes you may feel terrible, but your blood glucose levels may not fluctuate much. At other times, even minor illnesses can send blood glucose levels soaring. So when you do not feel well, you should test your blood glucose levels more frequently.

A rise in blood glucose levels is the first indicator of possible complications when you are feeling unwell (sick days). Although ketone levels may also start rising, blood glucose levels rise earlier and at a quicker rate compared to ketone levels. Therefore blood glucose levels are a better early indicator of possible complications.

The first important step in preventing a dangerous situation is to test your blood glucose levels more frequently – every 1 to 2 hours during sick days and adjust your insulin levels accordingly.

When you are sick

• Follow your Diabetes Sick Day Plan
• Be aware of the symptoms of hyperglycaemia and rising ketone levels
• Be aware of the symptoms of hypoglycaemia
• Test your blood glucose levels, check for ketones and take your temperature

If left untreated, ketone build-up can lead to coma and can even be life threatening. Contact your healthcare professional immediately if you detect a build-up of ketones.

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• Run warm water over your hands before testing to increase blood flow. Be sure to dry your hands completely before testing.
• Improve blood flow to the fingers by warming them.
• Lower hands to below your waist level and gently massage the selected finger before lancing.
• Press the lancing device firmly against the side of your fingertip.
• After lancing, gently massage your finger toward the tip.
• Only if all of the above is insufficient, increase the penetration depth of the lancing device by rotating the depth selection dial one step at a time.

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Blood sugar, or glucose, is a simple sugar obtained when your body breaks down carbohydrates in food. When you test your blood with a blood glucose meter, the result is a reflection of current blood glucose levels. The HbA_1c test, or A_1C, shows blood glucose levels over a longer period. It shows the control a patient has had over the last 2-3 months.

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Not all meters are the same. Consult your product manual for the best method of cleaning your meter. As a general rule you should clean your meter whenever it looks dirty and whenever you open a new pack of test strips – or at least every 2 months. Some meters have a removable test strip guide that can be cleaned with cold water or wiped with 70% alcohol - allow to dry thoroughly. On these meters the measurement optics also need to be cleaned with a soft lint-free cloth and /or a cotton swab which is moist but not wet. Do not let moisture get into the meter itself. When all components are dry slide the test strip guide back into the meter.

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You should carry out a quality control test:

• When you open a new pack of test strips
• After you have replaced the batteries
• If your meter flashes “CTRL,” indicating that a quality control test is required
• After you have cleaned your meter
• If your blood test does not agree with how you feel

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Ensure that your meter is kept out of extreme temperatures to avoid damage. Avoid storing your meter near electromagnetic fields such as near mobile phones, microwave ovens, etc. Refer to your instruction manual for more detailed information.

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Test strips should be kept out of very cold or hot conditions. The test strip container should be kept closed at all times since it contains a drying agent that will not work if exposed to the air.

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