Have you ever retested your blood glucose level immediately after the first reading, only to find completely different numbers? While these measurements may not be perfect, taking steps to ensure they are as accurate as possible is important for effective diabetes control. Here are some steps you can take to get the most accurate reading the first time.
Contamination of fingers is a common culprit of glycemic index swings. That’s because just a tiny bit of food residue on your hands can have an impact on blood sugar levels. For example, simply touching a banana or slicing a piece of fruit can send your numbers sky-high. To make sure this doesn’t affect the results, wash both hands thoroughly before testing. And don’t depend on alcohol swabs. Research shows that alcohol is not as clean as washing hands with soap and tap water.
In addition to washing your hands, make sure that you follow the instructions for use for your meter exactly. For example, too little blood on a test strip can affect its accuracy, and your meter may not always give you an error message to alert you to a problem. Also, remember to allow the blood to flow freely during the test. Squeezing your fingers may affect the results.
Expired test strips or exposure to extreme heat or cold may give inaccurate results. If you use one of these boxes and then switch to a new box, you may get very different numbers. Also, make sure you are using the correct test strips. Even if a test strip fits your meter, that doesn’t necessarily mean it belongs. If your strip is not manufactured for your meter, you may receive inaccurate results.
Although speedometers are improving, they are not perfect yet. Today’s gauges are considered accurate if they are within 20 percent of your actual number. That could account for so many variations. To check the accuracy of your meter, take it with you when you measure your blood sugar in the lab. After testing there, check the numbers against the results of your meter. If you are concerned about the accuracy of the meter, consult your doctor.
Remember, blood sugar can vary slightly depending on the time of reading. But testing is still a necessary and viable tool to help you manage your diabetes. Take steps to improve its accuracy whenever possible. And if some don’t seem right, consider taking the test again. Just wash your hands first and follow other good testing habits.
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Contaminated fingers are a common culprit for blood sugar swings, so wash both hands before testing.
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Make sure that you are using the correct test strips and that they are not exposed to extreme heat or cold.
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To check the accuracy of your meter, bring it with you when you have your blood sugar measured in the lab. After checking there, check the number against the results of your meter.
