How to measure blood sugar at home
November 14 is United Nations Diabetes Day, and diabetes is often referred to as the "sweet killer." Correct home blood glucose monitoring is particularly important for blood glucose management in patients with diabetes.
People with diabetes have different blood sugar control goals. According to the Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes in China (2020 edition) formulated by the Diabetes Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, for most diabetic patients, it is usually recommended to control fasting blood glucose at 4.4 ~ 7.0 mmol/L and non-fasting blood glucose at no more than 10 mmol/L.
If the blood glucose management is not up to standard, long-term chronic hyperglycemia may lead to the early occurrence or aggravation of diabetes-related macrovascular and microvascular lesions, and may also increase the risk of tissue and organ infection, and even lead to hyperglycemic crises (such as ketoacidosis, hyperosmotic pressure syndrome, etc.). In addition, substandard blood sugar management may also lead to hypoglycemia, so diabetic patients should control blood sugar reasonably.
Precautions for monitoring blood sugar
The time points measured were generally fasting in the morning, 1 hour or 2 hours after breakfast, 1 hour or 2 hours after lunch, and 1 hour or 2 hours after dinner. A small number of patients need to monitor blood sugar before meals and before bedtime or even in the early morning. The specific monitoring time should follow the doctor's advice.
Some special cases especially need attention, such as patients who use insulin before dinner or before going to bed, patients with large blood sugar fluctuations, also need to measure the blood sugar before going to bed, usually need to ensure that the blood sugar before going to bed is above 6.0 mmol/L, so as to avoid night hypoglycemia. Patients with diabetes or those with a longer course of disease often present with unconscious nighttime hypoglycemia, which is a very harmful problem that can induce cardiovascular events and even sudden death.
If the patient has recurrent episodes of fasting hyperglycemia, blood glucose at 2 am and 3 am should be tested. If hypoglycemia occurs during this time, it may cause reactive hyperglycemia in the morning. Once this happens, patients taking basal insulin need to reduce their dose; Patients taking sulfonylurea secretagogues need to see a doctor in time to adjust the treatment plan.
The correct way to operate
Before monitoring blood glucose at home, prepare relevant items, including blood needle, blood glucose meter, blood glucose test paper, alcohol, and cotton swabs. The specific steps are as follows:
Clean hands：Wash and dry your hands.
Mounting test paper：Remove the test paper from the test paper bottle, avoid contact with the blood sucking port of the test paper and the electrode area, and insert the test paper into the test paper interface of the blood glucose meter in parallel.
Disinfect the blood collection site：With a sterile cotton swab or cotton ball dipped in 75% alcohol, the blood collection point as the center, clockwise disinfection, do not wipe repeatedly.
Blood sampling：The blood should be collected after the sterilized part is completely dry. Both sides of the finger abdomen should be selected as the blood collection part. The middle part of the finger tip should be avoided, because the middle nerve of the finger abdomen is rich and the pain is obvious.
Siphon：Discard the first drop of blood and draw the second. Gently squeeze the finger abdomen, and when the second drop of blood comes out naturally, use the blood glucose meter installed with the test paper, and inhale the blood into the test paper through the "siphon" effect, avoid the test paper against the skin, and then lay the blood glucose meter flat, waiting for a few seconds to read.
Hemostasis：Use a sterile cotton swab to stop the bleeding and press the blood collection point for about 1 minute.
Discard waste：Discard the used test strips, alcohol pads, and cotton swabs into the yellow trash can. Discard the blood sampling needle in a sealed bottle to avoid injuring others.
Matters needing attention
Time limit：Fasting blood glucose refers to the state of fasting after 8 to 12 hours. Postprandial blood sugar is calculated from the start of the meal.
Test paper preservation：Blood glucose test strips should be sealed, dry and stored away from light, and valid for 3 months after the first opening of the bottle.
Avoid touching the test area with your fingers：Close the bottle lid immediately after removing the test paper to avoid oxidation or moisture.
Select finger：The side of the middle and ring fingers is more commonly used, the epidermis is thin, and the nerves are not sensitive, which is conducive to reducing pain.
Rub hands before taking blood，Gently massage the finger belly. Use alcohol to disinfect. Avoid iodophor.
Wait for the disinfected alcohol to dry before taking blood，Prevents alcohol from diluting the blood and resulting in lower measurement results.
Avoid pressing hard on the belly of your fingers，it can gently squeeze out the blood to avoid mixing with tissue fluid and affecting the result.
Avoid moving the test strip when measuring blood sugar，to avoid affecting the measurement results.