1. Clean your hands
Before monitoring blood sugar, wash your hands with soap and warm water and clean the blood collection site to reduce the risk of finger infections.
2. The choice of blood collection finger
Puncture blood collection should be performed on the skin of a finger that is normal temperature, healthy, free of scars, bruises, rashes, edema, broken, burned, or infected fingers.
Clinically, blood is often collected from both sides of the fingertip at the end of the ring finger or the ventral medial side of the middle finger. It reduces pain, facilitates manipulation, reduces the risk of infection and ensures safe collection. Index finger and thumb are not recommended.
For people who need to monitor blood sugar frequently, pay attention to the rotation of blood collection sites and avoid always measuring blood sugar with one finger or one part. Usually pay attention to the maintenance of hands, wear gloves to keep warm when going out in winter, apply moisturizing cream after each hand washing, and do not wash your hands too frequently to avoid aggravating dry skin.
3. Sanitize your fingers
Disinfect with 75% alcohol before blood collection, and then perform skin puncture after the alcohol naturally dries, so as to prevent the alcohol from reacting with the chemicals on the test strip, resulting in inaccurate blood sugar values. Injecting before the alcohol has completely evaporated can make the pain worse.
Do not use iodine-containing disinfectant at the blood collection site, it will react with the oxidase on the test strip, resulting in a high test result. After the alcohol has completely evaporated, insert the blood glucose test strip into the blood glucose meter and wait for the blood glucose meter to display the blood drop mark.
4. Puncture blood collection
The needle tip pierces the capillary during blood collection, and the blood flows out naturally during blood collection, which can better ensure the accuracy of blood glucose measurement. If the natural flow is slow, squeeze from the base of the palm to the tip of the finger, not the tip of the needle. If you squeeze harder, more tissue fluid will be squeezed out, which will dilute the blood and cause lower measurements.
After bleeding from the puncture, wipe off the first drop of blood with a cotton swab. At this time, there is a blood drop mark on the test strip of the blood glucose meter. You can touch the second drop of blood at the top of the test strip, and the test strip will naturally draw in the blood. Press the test strip firmly on the belly of the finger, do not press the test strip hard on the belly of the finger, do not use the test strip to shovel blood, and do not move the test strip during the test.
5. After the test
Press the puncture site with a cotton swab for 10 seconds after blood collection. Discard test strips, needles, and swabs into appropriate containers. Store test supplies in a dry, clean place.
After the test, record a blood sugar log, including blood sugar results, medication, diet, exercise, physical discomfort, etc., to facilitate understanding of your own situation, and bring the record to the doctor when you see a doctor, as the basis for the treatment plan.
