Blood sugar. Tests to get the answers.

The sugar level in your blood needs to be kept just right. Diabetes means your body can’t do this without help.

You need to monitor your blood sugar regularly using a blood glucose meter.

By doing your blood sugar tests, you will find out if your sugar level is high, low or nicely balanced.

Your insulin dose, the food you're eating or the exercise you're doing can then be adjusted to keep your blood sugar level as normal as possible.

That way you'll know when and how to help your body.

You'll usually need to do a test several times a day. Your nurse will discuss this with you. It’s quick and easy to measure your blood sugar. It takes seconds.

Using what's called a lancer, you prick your finger to get a spot of blood The blood is put on a strip of special paper in the blood glucose meter

The machine works out your blood sugar level, and shows it on the screen. You'll need to write each reading down in a special diary

What's healthy?

Blood sugar is measured in something called millimoles per litre (mmol/l)

Yours should be kept between 4-8 mmol/l before lunch and dinner and under 10 mmol/l two hours after

How to test your blood sugar level

1. Wash your hands with luke warm water and soap, rinse and dry them.

2. Pick one of your fingers (not a thumb or the finger next to it) to take a blood sample.

3. Give it a quick massage to help bring blood to the finger. Using a lancer, prick the side of your finger, it's less sensitive than the fingertip.

4. Lightly squeeze a drop of your blood onto the test strip.

5. Record the reading from the meter and enter it into your diary.

Your blood sugar will go up and down 'don't worry' it's pretty normal. Your doctor or nurse will help you deal with this to make sure that your blood sugar levels stay nicely balanced.

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The information in this section has kindly been provided by BD Medical. You may want to get a copy of this booklet to keep and refer to from time to time. Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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