How to measure blood sugar by yourself?

Regarding the issue of measuring blood sugar, people have many misunderstandings. For example, many people think that they do not have obvious symptoms of discomfort, so there is no need to go to the hospital to measure blood sugar. In fact, this understanding is wrong. Secondly, many people think that it is enough to only measure the blood sugar level when fasting. In fact, it is not. I believe that many people do not know how to measure their blood sugar, so the following is a detailed introduction.

How to measure blood sugar by yourself?

Blood sugar cannot be measured in one go. Normally, it is tested seven times a day. They are once in the morning on an empty stomach, once 2 hours after breakfast, once before lunch, once 2 hours after meals, once before dinner, once 2 hours after meals, and once before bedtime. This is how you measure your blood sugar for the day. If you want to know your blood sugar level the next day, repeat the steps from the previous day. This refers to people with diabetes. If you are a normal person, your blood sugar level will be based on the level 2 hours before and after meals. Because the blood sugar levels measured at other time periods should be similar.

The blood sugar level of sick people is unstable, so testing it once does not necessarily mean that the blood sugar level will be the same. After a while, it may change due to diet, exercise, mood, etc. A normal person's blood sugar will also change according to this situation, but any changes will be within the normal range.

So if you are a diabetic patient, as long as your mood, diet and daily routine are regular, you can know your blood sugar level during this period by measuring your blood sugar seven times a day. And if you feel carefully, you can feel whether your blood sugar is too high or too low. If your daily routine is disrupted, if you want to know your blood sugar level after your lifestyle changes, you need to test it seven more times to find out what your blood sugar level is like under this lifestyle change. Once your blood sugar is regulated, just maintain this state.

When measuring blood sugar, you usually prick your fingertips, so it doesn't matter whether you squeeze or not. If there is very little blood each time you measure, one reason is that the puncture is not deep enough. Two, you can shake your hands a few times before measuring the blood sugar and then puncture again.

Tips for measuring blood sugar:

1. The pain when pricking the side of the finger pulp is mild. Nancy, 54, who was just diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, said: "When I was drawing blood for the test, I got pricked on the tip of my middle finger and it felt a little painful." The internist suggested that she try another part of her body that was less painful. As a result, she found that the pain was significantly reduced when the fingertip was pricked closer to the nail, and it was almost non-existent and more comfortable.

2. Avoid pricking your fingertips. Dr. Yupalinger said that the fingertips have rich nerve endings and are relatively sensitive. Therefore, pricking the side of the finger or pressing near the blood collection point when there is little blood has an analgesic effect.

3. Do not use alcohol to disinfect your fingers. Alcohol can cause dry skin and there will be obvious pain when pricking the finger for blood drawing. It is recommended to wash hands with warm water before pricking.

4. Choose the right blood glucose meter. If there is always a problem of insufficient blood collection, it is best to change to a better blood glucose meter. Some blood glucose meters can test blood sugar using blood drawn from areas of the body other than the finger.

5. Blood collection equipment cannot be reused. Understand the correct use of blood collection equipment and use a new blood collection needle each time. If the blood collection needle is used too many times, it will become blunt, causing the pain of finger puncture to increase.

6. Do not squeeze blood from your fingertips. If there is no immediate bleeding after pricking the finger, or the amount of bleeding is not enough, it is best to let your hand hang naturally and wait for 5 seconds. If necessary, squeeze upwards from the palm of your hand. Do not squeeze through fingertips.

7. Change the finger frequently to draw blood. It is best to take turns or use a method that is easy to remember, and rotate your fingers to draw blood. Try not to draw blood from a finger that is already painful. Wait until the pain subsides before changing the finger to draw blood.