How to Check Your Blood Sugar at Home

When you have Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes, checking your blood sugar is essential. This post will focus on Type 2 Diabetes specifically. In our current world that is filled with different prescription and over the counter manual and automatic glucose monitors, testing strips, and insulin pumps, this process can seem daunting.

If you are not on insulin, checking your blood sugar once a day is typically satisfactory. If you are taking insulin, you likely should be checking more often than this. In the second circumstance, checking sugars 2-4 times daily may be more reasonable. Always consult with your medical provider to determine when and how often you should be monitoring your blood sugar.

Below is summarized a step-by-step guide from the CDC on how to measure your blood sugar with a glucometer:

  1. Remove a glucose test strip from the container and seal tightly after
  2. Thoroughly wash your hands or use hand sanitizer to avoid introducing bacteria to your skin
  3. Prick your finger with a prescription lancet to break the skin
  4. Squeeze gently from the base of the finger to form a drop of blood on the puncture site
  5. Place the tip of the test strip on to the drop of blood until you see that it absorbs into the strip
  6. Place the strip into the glucometer and wait for your results to appear
  7. Keep track of your results either on your glucometer or a paper logbook
  8. Dispose of the lancet and test strip into a trash container

It should be noted that you should NEVER share any of your diabetes supplies with another person. This includes your glucometer, test strips, lancets, or insulin supplies. You should also never buy any diabetic supplies from unreputable or unverified sources.

medical monitor