Thoroughly wash and dry your hands, and then massage a finger to encourage blood flow. Avoid using your index finger or thumb, since you use these digits most frequently. Prick the side of the finger with a finger pricker. Squeeze or massage gently to encourage a small drop of blood to form.

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You should test your blood sugar level as often as your health care specialist recommends.

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It takes time to titrate the insulin doses to achieve good control, I suggest you speak to your diabetes care team to discuss how you adjust the insulin doses correctly.

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It takes time to titrate the insulin doses to achieve good control, I suggest you speak to your diabetes care team to discuss how you adjust the insulin doses correctly.

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If your GP has asked you to perform blood glucose testing, then it would be worth asking which tests you need to do. Many people do some tests just before a meal, and some tests 2 hours after a meal. This lets us know how well your body is using the food you eat and turning it into energy. The other test which is done every few months is called an HbA1c, and this test gives an overall picture of your blood glucose control over the previous 8-12 weeks.

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A blood glucose of 12mmols/L is not clinically a hypo. Are you testing on the finger?, as alternative sites i.e. the forearm is not recommended if feeling hypo. The technique of blood testing is in question - did you wash your hands before testing? If you feel hypo - treat the hypo symptoms i.e. fast acting glucose and back up with carbohydrate snack, I would not advise treatment for a high sugar!

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There is no fast fix for this situation and yes you are right look at what may have caused the rise in blood glucose. Was the blood test accurate, did you wash your hands prior to testing, is the meter working properly? It may be something you have eaten or maybe you were not as active that day? Try to keep track on when it goes up and discuss this with your health care team.

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No. In contrast to former recommendations, it is not necessary to discard the first drop of blood and use only the second one for glucose monitoring. There is no significant difference in blood glucose values measured with the first and the second drop. However, any contamination of the fingertip with dirt or liquids (sweat, fruit juice, etc.) may affect glucose readings. Clean and dry fingertips are key when measuring best glucose.

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Yes. Blood should be sampled by gently squeezing the fingertip (the tissue is pressed together, and blood is forced out of the incision), since it minimizes lancing pain (shallower penetration) and reduces the risk of scarring.

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Type 2 diabetes, which is the type you have has a progressive nature, so it is not unusual for people who have persevered on diet and tablets to move onto insulin and diet to control their diabetes. You are right when you say some friends have gone onto insulin and now feel much better - a lot of people find this to be true for them. One interesting thing it that you often don't realise how generally tired you are until you start on insulin, then you often get more energy back again. Have a chat with your diabetes clinic about going onto insulin, and if you are happy to try it, then do. Remember, moving onto insulin is not a sign that you have failed to make diet and tablets work - diabetes gets more difficult to manage over time, so take the leap to insulin with a happy heart, and good luck.

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Ketones are the waste products produced when your body breaks down fatty acids for energy. Toxic ketone levels can build up and spill into urine. This is a sign that your diabetes is not well controlled—perhaps because of tiredness and fatigue—and you will feel increasingly unwell.

If left untreated, ketone buildup can lead to coma and even be life threatening. Contact your healthcare professional if you detect a buildup of ketones in your urine.

Symptoms may include nausea and vomiting, shortness of breadth and blurred vision. As keytones levels rise, it may cause your breath to smell like nail varnish.

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• Run warm water over your hands before testing to increase blood flow. Be sure to dry your hands completely before testing.
• Improve blood flow to the fingers by warming them.
• Lower hands to below your waist level and gently massage the selected finger before lancing.
• Press the finger pricker firmly against your finger.
• After lancing, massage your finger toward the tip.
• Only if all of the above is insufficient, increase the penetration depth of the finger pricker by rotating the depth selection dial one step at a time.

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Target blood glucose levels should be on average between 5-7mmols/L. It is recommended that blood glucose levels should be above 5mmols/L before driving. Below 4mmols/L is too low and 10 or above is too high. Please note that this might vary slightly between various health care professionals.

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Blood sugar, or glucose, is a simple sugar obtained when your body breaks down carbohydrates in food. When you test your blood with a blood glucose meter, the result is an reflection of current blood sugar levels.

The HbA1c test, or A1C, shows blood glucose levels over a longer period. It shows the control a patient has had over a number of weeks or months.

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Clean you meter whenever it looks dirty and whenever you open a new pack of test strips—at least once every 2 months. Slide off the test strip guide and clean it with cold water. You can then wipe it lightly with 70% alcohol and allow it to dry thoroughly. Wipe the display with a soft lint-free cloth or a cotton swab, which can be moist but not wet. Do not let moisture get into the meter itself. When all components are dry, slide the test strip guide back onto the meter.

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To order a battery, please go to the battery order page and follow these 4 steps:

1. Select the Accu-Chek meter you use from the list to view items available
2. Select the battery order option then click view basket
3. You will be asked to login or register when you are ready to complete your order
4. Follow the on screen instructions to complete the online order process

 

To access the battery order page please click here

 

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You should carry out a quality control test:

• When you open a new pack of test strips
• After you have replaced the batteries
• If your meter flashes “CTRL,” indicating that a quality control test is required
• After you have cleaned your meter
• If your blood test does not agree with how you feel

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Ensure that your meter is kept at temperatures between –40°C and 70°C to avoid damage. Relative humidity must be below 85%, and avoid storing your meter near electromagnetic fields (near mobile phones, microwave ovens, etc.).

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Test strips should be kept out of very cold or hot conditions. The test strip container should be kept closed at all times since it contains a drying agent that will not work if exposed to the air.

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