Unreliable Glucose Tests? Are You Making These Mistakes?
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Although measuring blood sugar is a daily task for diabetic patients, there are still many patients who do not have some common sense related to this.
The American "Daily Health" website recently summarized 10 common mistakes that diabetic patients make when measuring blood sugar. Avoiding these mistakes will help patients obtain stable and consistent test results and provide the most reliable basis for their own sugar control treatment.
Mistake 1: Buying a blood glucose meter that is not suitable for you
Shel Pastor, a registered diabetes educator in New York, said: "The blood glucose meter chosen by diabetics should make them feel the most comfortable." For example, for young patients who are busy all the time, it is appropriate to choose a blood glucose meter that can It is a compact and easy-to-carry blood glucose meter that can be placed in a pocket or bag; for older patients, convenience may not be so important, and it is more suitable to buy a blood glucose meter with a larger screen and a larger reading display.
Mistake 2: Not purchasing a high-quality blood glucose meter
Although blood glucose meters and their testing supplies are not covered by medical insurance reimbursement, patients should purchase high-quality blood glucose meters and supporting supplies from regular channels and not let inferior products affect blood glucose results.
Mistake 3: Setting the wrong time and date on the blood glucose meter
Setting the correct time and date on the blood glucose meter helps patients compare blood sugar on different dates and at different time points. However, some patients do not pay much attention to this and do not set the correct time and date on the blood glucose meter, which makes The blood glucose data does not match the time, and it will be confusing to judge the meaning of the data in the future. Therefore, the newly purchased blood glucose meter should be debugged to ensure that the correct time and date are set.
Mistake 4: Testing blood sugar at the wrong time
For example, when measuring fasting blood sugar in the morning, the fasting time is too short (such as eating after midnight) or the fasting time is too long (no food has been eaten since the afternoon the day before); or measuring blood sugar immediately after a meal as postprandial blood sugar; or not starting from the first day of eating. Count the time in one bite, but start counting from the end of the meal, and measure your blood sugar 2 hours later as post-meal blood sugar. This will make the results inaccurate and not reflect actual blood sugar levels.
Mistake 5: Not developing a good habit of measuring blood sugar regularly
The best way to manage diabetes is to test your blood sugar regularly, which means you need to make this part of your daily routine. You can set an alarm on your phone to remind yourself to test your blood sugar on time. This method is especially useful for those who have not developed the habit of regularly measuring blood sugar.
Mistake 6: Not washing your hands before measuring blood sugar
If you have sugar on your hands from food or items you have used, this can affect your blood sugar readings. Also avoid using alcohol or antibacterial hand sanitizer to clean your hands. Just wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, and dry or dry your hands thoroughly before using the meter.
Mistake 7: Using test supplies incorrectly
To get the most accurate test results, you need to use the lancet and test strips correctly. Reusing blood collection equipment can dull it and you may injure yourself. This is why patients are often advised to use a new lancet each time. To ensure accurate readings, patients also need to ensure that the test strips are stored correctly and have not expired.
Mistake 8: Testing fingertip blood
The center of the fingertip is more sensitive to pain, and taking blood from here can be painful. Therefore, the patient should prick the blood from the side of the fingertip rather than pricking the middle of the finger. You should use a different finger every time you test your blood sugar. This is because always taking blood from the same location will cause the wound to scab and form a hard skin.
Mistake 9: Not ensuring there is enough water in the body
Dehydration can affect the accuracy of blood sugar readings. If you suspect dehydration is causing your blood sugar readings to be inaccurate, drink more water instead of soft drinks.
Mistake 10: Not recording test results
The best way to understand how your blood sugar fluctuates is to record the results of each test so you know what causes your blood sugar levels to rise and fall. Test results are also an important basis for patients to adjust their treatment plans.
The American "Daily Health" website recently summarized 10 common mistakes that diabetic patients make when measuring blood sugar. Avoiding these mistakes will help patients obtain stable and consistent test results and provide the most reliable basis for their own sugar control treatment.
Mistake 1: Buying a blood glucose meter that is not suitable for you
Shel Pastor, a registered diabetes educator in New York, said: "The blood glucose meter chosen by diabetics should make them feel the most comfortable." For example, for young patients who are busy all the time, it is appropriate to choose a blood glucose meter that can It is a compact and easy-to-carry blood glucose meter that can be placed in a pocket or bag; for older patients, convenience may not be so important, and it is more suitable to buy a blood glucose meter with a larger screen and a larger reading display.
Mistake 2: Not purchasing a high-quality blood glucose meter
Although blood glucose meters and their testing supplies are not covered by medical insurance reimbursement, patients should purchase high-quality blood glucose meters and supporting supplies from regular channels and not let inferior products affect blood glucose results.
Mistake 3: Setting the wrong time and date on the blood glucose meter
Setting the correct time and date on the blood glucose meter helps patients compare blood sugar on different dates and at different time points. However, some patients do not pay much attention to this and do not set the correct time and date on the blood glucose meter, which makes The blood glucose data does not match the time, and it will be confusing to judge the meaning of the data in the future. Therefore, the newly purchased blood glucose meter should be debugged to ensure that the correct time and date are set.
Mistake 4: Testing blood sugar at the wrong time
For example, when measuring fasting blood sugar in the morning, the fasting time is too short (such as eating after midnight) or the fasting time is too long (no food has been eaten since the afternoon the day before); or measuring blood sugar immediately after a meal as postprandial blood sugar; or not starting from the first day of eating. Count the time in one bite, but start counting from the end of the meal, and measure your blood sugar 2 hours later as post-meal blood sugar. This will make the results inaccurate and not reflect actual blood sugar levels.
Mistake 5: Not developing a good habit of measuring blood sugar regularly
The best way to manage diabetes is to test your blood sugar regularly, which means you need to make this part of your daily routine. You can set an alarm on your phone to remind yourself to test your blood sugar on time. This method is especially useful for those who have not developed the habit of regularly measuring blood sugar.
Mistake 6: Not washing your hands before measuring blood sugar
If you have sugar on your hands from food or items you have used, this can affect your blood sugar readings. Also avoid using alcohol or antibacterial hand sanitizer to clean your hands. Just wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, and dry or dry your hands thoroughly before using the meter.
Mistake 7: Using test supplies incorrectly
To get the most accurate test results, you need to use the lancet and test strips correctly. Reusing blood collection equipment can dull it and you may injure yourself. This is why patients are often advised to use a new lancet each time. To ensure accurate readings, patients also need to ensure that the test strips are stored correctly and have not expired.
Mistake 8: Testing fingertip blood
The center of the fingertip is more sensitive to pain, and taking blood from here can be painful. Therefore, the patient should prick the blood from the side of the fingertip rather than pricking the middle of the finger. You should use a different finger every time you test your blood sugar. This is because always taking blood from the same location will cause the wound to scab and form a hard skin.
Mistake 9: Not ensuring there is enough water in the body
Dehydration can affect the accuracy of blood sugar readings. If you suspect dehydration is causing your blood sugar readings to be inaccurate, drink more water instead of soft drinks.
Mistake 10: Not recording test results
The best way to understand how your blood sugar fluctuates is to record the results of each test so you know what causes your blood sugar levels to rise and fall. Test results are also an important basis for patients to adjust their treatment plans.