When you first start to use blood glucose meters and choose one that is right for you, it is essential that you get training from your diabetic consultant to make sure you use it properly and understand the readings. No matter which model you choose, the process of using them is the same.
One of the first things you should do before you start is to wash your hands with soap and water and dry them thoroughly. Make sure you have a new test strip ready for the meter. Then you take the lancet that is part of the kit and prick the tip of one of your fingers. You may have to squeeze your finger a little bit until a tiny drop of blood appears.
The next step in using blood glucose meters is to smear the droplet of blood from your finger onto the test strip. Once the test strip is inserted in the machine you just wait until the reading appears on the display screen.
Even though your doctor or diabetes consultant will provide you with the training you need in using blood glucose meters, the law requires that all these devices include written instructions. As you get used to using the device as part of your day, you should refresh your memory about how to use it by reading the instructions once in a while. After you have been using it for a while, it will become second nature and you won’t need to refer to the instructions at all.
If and when the time comes that you have to look at newer models of blood glucose meters, it is important to note that not all of these devices are the same. Therefore, you will need to carefully read the instructions before you start just in case there is something different with your new machine. You may also have to compare results for a week or so to make sure that the readings are the same.