Health Library

Adult Health Library

Health Library Explorer
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A-Z Listings
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Topic Index
Library Index
Click a letter to see a list of conditions beginning with that letter.
Click 'Topic Index' to return to the index for the current topic.
Click 'Library Index' to return to the listing of all topics.

Checking Your Blood Sugar

Step-by-Step

  • Supplies for checking blood sugar, including glucometer, lancet, lancet holder, test strips, and cotton balls.

    1. Gather your supplies.

  • Hand holding open instruction booklet for glucometer.

    2. Read your glucometer instructions.

  • Hands scrubbing with soap under faucet with running water.

    3. Wash your hands.

  • Hands drying with towel.

    4. Dry your hands with a clean towel.

  • Hand holding clean lancet between thumb and index finger.

    5. Use a clean needle (lancet).

  • One hand holding lancet holder and other hand inserting lancet into lancet holder.

    6. Place the lancet in the holder, if you use one.

  • One hand holding glucometer and other hand inserting test strip into glucometer, with test strip bottle in background.

    7. Insert a test strip in the glucometer.

  • Hand with palm up and highlights on inside and outside of pads of all 5 fingers.

    8. Use any finger.

  • One hand holding lancet in lancet holder and poking side of index finger on other hand with lancet.

    9. Poke the side of your finger.

  • One hand squeezing drop of blood from index finger on other hand.

    10. Squeeze a drop of blood from your finger.

  • One hand holding glucometer with test strip touching drop of blood from index finger on other hand.

    11. Test your blood.

  • One hand holding cotton ball to left index finger on other hand.

    12. Stop any bleeding.

  • Lancet being ejected from lancet holder into sharps container.

    13. Throw the lancet away.

  • Hand writing down results with pen and paper.

    14. Record your results.

Online Medical Reviewer: Michael Dansinger MD
Online Medical Reviewer: Raymond Kent Turley BSN MSN RN
Online Medical Reviewer: Rita Sather RN
Date Last Reviewed: 9/1/2023
© 2000-2026 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.