Q. How often should I test my
blood glucose?
A. This is best decided by you
and your healthcare profes-
sional. It may vary according
to your age, the type of
diabetes you have, any
medication you are using,
whether you are ill, and any
physical or emotional changes
in your life.
Q. Should my test results
always be the same?
A. No. Results will vary
somewhat from test to test,
depending on diet, activity
level, and time of day. These
variations provide useful
clues about your condition
and how well your treatment
program is working.
With your healthcare profes-
sional, determine your own
personal target blood glucose
values, as well as what an
unusually high or low test
result is for you. In most
cases, your test results should
stay within that range.
Q. What can I do to be sure I
get accurate test results?
A. Make sure that you do the
following:
Keep your meter clean at all
times. For information, see
page 43.
Use enough blood. The entire
test spot must be completely
covered with blood. Touch
the drop of blood lightly to the
middle of the test spot to fill
the entire spot. The drop of
blood should form a round,
shiny circle over the entire
spot, and stay wet during the
entire test.
Do not smear the blood
or touch the test spot with
your finger.
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