How do you check blood sugar in your fingers?

Insert a test strip into your meter. Prick the side of your fingertip with the needle (lancet) provided with your test kit. Touch and hold the edge of the test strip to the drop of blood. The meter will display your blood sugar level on a screen after a few seconds.

Are finger sticks accurate for blood sugar?

Fingerstick testing is still the most accurate reflection of sugar levels in the blood stream. It’s a good idea to discuss meter selection with your health care provider or diabetes educator.

Does it matter which finger you test blood sugar?

Testing Your Fingertip The pad of your finger is the most sensitive spot, so testing there will hurt. The solution for better diabetes control: Put your hands together with flat palms and fingertips pressed together.

Why do you wipe the first drop of blood when checking blood sugar?

The first drop of blood from a lancing site contains a greater volume of platelets, which could make the lancing site seal up before enough blood was obtained for the test, and the dual wipe ensured a longer, larger flow of blood.

What is a good number for a finger stick?

ISO guideline 15197 suggests that for glucose levels <75 mg/dl, a meter should read within 15 mg/dl of the reference sample, and for levels ≥75 mg/dl, the reading should be within 20\%. A meter also should be able to meet these targets in at least 95\% of the samples tested (1).

What is the best way to test blood sugar?

There are several ways to test your blood sugar: From Your Fingertip: You prick your finger with a small, sharp needle (called a lancet) and put a drop of blood on a test strip. Then you put the test strip into a meter that shows your blood sugar level.

How to check blood sugar levels with a finger stick?

Taking a finger stick test at home or on the go is a quick, cost-effective way to check blood sugar levels throughout the day and make any necessary treatment decisions, like dosing insulin. Finger stick tests may also be performed by a healthcare professional for assisted monitoring of blood sugar.

How do I test my blood pressure with my fingers?

Be careful not to overheat your fingers so as not to hurt yourself. Put a test strip into your meter Prick your finger with the lancing device at the sides of the finger as there are less nerve ending here than at the tips or the ‘pads’.

What happens if you puncture a finger to check blood sugar?

Rotate fingertip sites Each time you puncture a fingertip to check a blood sugar, you should skip that same fingertip the next time. Rotating your lancing sites allows your fingertips to heal, reducing the occurrence of bruising and pain. Once your fingertip is bruised, you should never take a blood sample from on top of the bruise.