Blood Sugar Testing For Beginners

As a newly diagnosed diabetic or one who is just getting to the point of needing to test your glucose level, you have been told that blood sugar testing is something that you will have to do on a regular basis ... usually several times a day.  While there is no way to get out of doing this, here are a few tips to maybe make it a little easier.

1. Do not prick the tip of your finger.  This can be the most sensitive (and therefore painful) part of your finger.  Instead, do your blood sugar testing prick on the side of your finger.

2. Do not prick your toes.  Obviously your fingers are right there and easily accessible, whereas your toes are a little harder to get to.  But your toe is more likely to get infected (we are not constantly washing our feet as we are our hands) from the blood sugar testing prick than your finger would be.

3. Do not squeeze your finger to get the blood to come out.  If the blood does not come of its own free will, try using gravity to your advantage.  Just as you would raise your hand above your heart to try to stop a bleeding finger, the opposite is true so that if you WANT to bleed simply lower your finger below your heart.

4. Do not prick the same finger every time.  You have 8 fingers (and 2 thumbs) so "share the love".  Rotate between your fingers every time you do your blood sugar testing.  This will keep any one spot from getting too sore.

When you are first starting out, you may have a little difficulty in getting the process down.  Talk to your doctor if you are really having trouble.  Blood sugar testing really is quite simple and quick ... once you get used to doing it.

If you are on Medicare, you may qualify for free diabetic testing supplies.