How to check your blood sugar
How to check your blood sugar
Knowing your blood sugar level helps you treat low or high blood sugar before it becomes an emergency.
Here are the steps for testing your blood sugar.
Gather the supplies to test your blood sugar.
Keep your supplies together so that you can do a test quickly if needed. This usually includes the meter, needle (lancet) and lancet holder, test strips, and cotton balls.
Be sure you've read the information from the manufacturer and your doctor so that you know how to use the blood sugar meter, lancet holder, and test strips.
Check the expiration date on your testing strips.
If you use expired test strips, you may not get accurate results.
Check the code from the test strip, if necessary.
Many meters don't need a code from the test strips, but some will.
If your meter needs a code, make sure the code numbers on the testing strips bottle match the numbers on your meter.
If the numbers don't match, follow the directions that came with your meter for changing the code numbers.
Wash your hands with warm, soapy water, and dry them well with a clean towel.
Put a clean needle (lancet) in the lancet device.
The lancet device is a pen-sized holder for the lancet. It holds and positions the lancet and controls how deeply the lancet goes into your skin.
Take a test strip from your bottle of testing strips and put it into the meter.
Put the lid back on the bottle right away to prevent moisture from affecting the other strips.
Use the lancet device to stick the side of your fingertip with the lancet.
Be sure you know where your device can be used. Some devices and blood sugar meters allow blood testing on other parts of the body, such as the forearm, leg, or hand.
Keep in mind that using the finger is usually the most accurate way to test blood sugar. If your blood sugar is changing quickly or may be low, use a finger to check the level.
Put a drop of blood on the correct spot of the test strip, covering the test area well.
Using a clean cotton ball, stop the bleeding by applying pressure to the place you stuck.
Wait for your blood sugar results and then record them.
Most meters take only a few seconds to give you the results.
You and your doctor will use your record to see how often your blood sugar levels are in your target range. This information lets you and your doctor know how your medicine, food, and activity are affecting your blood sugar.
Properly care for your equipment as needed.
Try to link testing your blood sugar with other daily activities, such as making breakfast or before your afternoon walk. This will help you make it a habit.
Talk with your doctor about how often and when you should test your blood sugar. Write down the times you test your blood sugar. After a few days, review your records to see if you notice patterns. For example, if your blood sugar was often high a few hours after breakfast, look at what you ate and drank for breakfast.
Be sure to take your record with you to each visit with your doctor or diabetes educator.
Current as of: May 1, 2026
Author: WebMD Ignite Staff
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