Common Mistakes to Avoid When Checking Your Blood Glucose (BG)

Checking your blood glucose (BG) levels is a crucial part of managing diabetes. Regular monitoring provides valuable information about how your body responds to food, exercise, stress, and medications. However, even the most dedicated individuals can make mistakes that lead to inaccurate readings, hindering effective diabetes management. This article highlights common errors people make when checking their BG and offers practical advice to avoid them.

Why Accurate Blood Glucose Monitoring Matters

Accurate blood glucose monitoring is essential for several reasons:

• Informed Decision-Making: Reliable BG readings enable you to make informed decisions about adjusting your insulin dosage, carbohydrate intake, or exercise routine.
• Preventing Complications: Consistent monitoring helps identify trends and patterns that can help prevent both hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), thereby reducing the risk of long-term diabetes complications.
• Personalized Management: Understanding how specific foods or activities affect your blood sugar allows for a more personalized and effective diabetes management plan.
• Peace of Mind: Knowing your BG levels are within a target range can provide peace of mind and reduce anxiety related to diabetes.

| Importance of Accurate BG Monitoring | Description | | :------------------------------------ | :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Informed Decision-Making | Adjust insulin, diet, and exercise based on accurate readings. | | Preventing Complications | Reduces the risk of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, thus preventing long-term diabetes complications. | | Personalized Management | Tailor your diabetes management plan to your body's specific responses to various stimuli. | | Peace of Mind | Provides confidence in managing your condition and reduces anxiety associated with blood sugar fluctuations. |

1. Not Washing and Drying Your Hands Properly

One of the most frequent mistakes is neglecting to wash and thoroughly dry your hands before testing. Residue from food, lotions, or other substances can contaminate the sample, leading to falsely high or low readings.

Why it Matters:

Contaminants on your fingers, especially sugars or carbohydrates from recent food consumption, can significantly skew your BG reading. Even seemingly clean hands can harbor trace amounts of these substances. How To Lower Your A1C 9 Evidence Based Ways To Manage Blood Sugar

How to Avoid:

• Wash Thoroughly: Use warm water and soap to wash your hands. Ensure you scrub for at least 20 seconds.
• Rinse Well: Rinse your hands thoroughly to remove all traces of soap.
• Dry Completely: Use a clean, lint-free towel to dry your hands thoroughly. Avoid using alcohol wipes, as they can affect the reading and dry out the skin. If you must use an alcohol wipe, allow the area to completely air dry before testing.

2. Using Expired or Damaged Test Strips

Test strips have an expiration date, and using expired strips can produce inaccurate results. Exposure to humidity, temperature fluctuations, or physical damage can also compromise the strips' integrity.

Why it Matters:

The chemicals on the test strips degrade over time, leading to unreliable BG measurements. Damaged strips might not react properly with the blood sample, providing false readings.

How to Avoid:

• Check Expiration Dates: Always check the expiration date on the test strip vial before using them. Discard any expired strips.
• Proper Storage: Store test strips in their original, tightly sealed container, in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and humidity.
• Inspect Strips: Visually inspect each strip before use. Do not use any strips that appear discolored, damaged, or that have been exposed to air for an extended period.
• Open Carefully: Close the test strip container immediately after removing a strip.

3. Not Using Enough Blood

Most glucose meters require a specific amount of blood to perform an accurate reading. Insufficient blood can lead to error messages or inaccurate results. Can You Really Manage Your Blood Sugar Without Medication

Why it Matters:

If the blood sample is too small, the meter might not be able to properly analyze it, resulting in a reading that does not accurately reflect your blood glucose level.

How to Avoid:

• Lancing Technique: Use the correct lancing device setting to obtain an adequate blood sample. Deeper settings may be necessary for thicker skin.
• Milking, Not Squeezing: Gently massage or "milk" your finger towards the puncture site, rather than squeezing it forcefully. Squeezing can dilute the blood sample with interstitial fluid, leading to inaccurate readings.
• Alternate Sites: If you consistently have trouble obtaining enough blood from your fingertips, consider using alternative testing sites (AST) like the forearm or thigh, but be aware that these sites may be less accurate during rapid changes in blood glucose levels. Always consult your healthcare provider before switching to AST.

4. Not Calibrating Your Glucose Meter

Some glucose meters require regular calibration to ensure accuracy. Calibration involves using a control solution to verify that the meter is working correctly.

Why it Matters:

Over time, meters can drift out of calibration due to various factors, including changes in temperature, humidity, or normal wear and tear. Uncalibrated meters can provide readings that are significantly different from your actual blood glucose level.

How to Avoid:

• Follow Manufacturer’s Instructions: Refer to your meter’s user manual for specific instructions on calibration.
• Regular Calibration: Calibrate your meter regularly, especially when you open a new vial of test strips, if you suspect the meter is giving inaccurate readings, or if the meter has been dropped or exposed to extreme temperatures.
• Use Control Solution: Use the control solution provided by the meter manufacturer. Follow the instructions on the control solution packaging carefully.
• Record Calibration Results: Keep a record of your calibration results to track the meter's performance over time.

5. Lancing the Same Finger Repeatedly

Repeatedly lancing the same fingertip can lead to pain, scarring, and decreased sensitivity, making it more difficult to obtain a blood sample.

Why it Matters:

Repeated trauma to the same area can cause the nerve endings to become less sensitive, making the process more painful and potentially requiring a deeper lance to obtain a blood sample.

How to Avoid:

• Rotate Fingers: Use different fingers each time you test.
• Vary Puncture Sites: On each finger, vary the location of the puncture site. Avoid lancing directly on the fingertip or in the center of the pad, as these areas are more sensitive.
• Adjust Lancing Device Settings: Experiment with different depth settings on your lancing device to find the minimum setting that provides an adequate blood sample.
• Moisturize: Keep your hands and fingertips moisturized to prevent dryness and cracking.

| Mistake | Why It Matters | How to Avoid | | :-------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Not washing/drying hands | Contamination leads to inaccurate readings. | Use soap & water, rinse, and dry thoroughly. | | Using expired/damaged test strips | Chemicals degrade, causing unreliable measurements. | Check expiration dates, store strips properly, and inspect before use. | | Not using enough blood | Meter can’t properly analyze the sample. | Use correct lancing technique, massage finger gently, and consider alternate sites (AST). | | Not calibrating glucose meter | Meter drifts out of calibration, giving incorrect readings. | Follow manufacturer’s instructions, calibrate regularly, use control solution, and record results. | | Lancing the same finger repeatedly | Pain, scarring, decreased sensitivity. | Rotate fingers, vary puncture sites, adjust lancing device settings, and moisturize. |

6. Ignoring Meter Error Codes and Warnings

Glucose meters are equipped with error codes and warning messages to alert users to potential problems with the testing process. Ignoring these signals can lead to incorrect results. Understanding Insulin Its Role In Your Blood Sugar And Diabetes

Why it Matters:

Error codes and warnings are designed to identify issues such as insufficient blood, damaged test strips, meter malfunction, or incorrect usage. Ignoring these messages can result in inaccurate BG readings, potentially leading to inappropriate treatment decisions.

How to Avoid:

• Read the Manual: Familiarize yourself with the error codes and warnings specific to your glucose meter model.
• Troubleshoot: When an error code appears, refer to the user manual for troubleshooting steps.
• Repeat the Test: If possible, repeat the test using a new test strip and ensuring you follow all the correct procedures.
• Contact Customer Support: If the error persists or you are unsure how to resolve the issue, contact the meter manufacturer’s customer support for assistance.

7. Making Assumptions About Your Blood Sugar

It’s easy to assume you know what your blood sugar is, especially if you’ve been managing diabetes for a long time. However, making assumptions without actually testing can be risky.

Why it Matters:

Blood sugar levels can fluctuate unexpectedly due to factors such as stress, illness, hormonal changes, or changes in medication. Relying on assumptions instead of actual measurements can lead to missed opportunities to adjust your treatment plan and prevent dangerous highs or lows.

How to Avoid:

• Test Regularly: Follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations for how often to check your blood sugar.
• Test When in Doubt: If you experience symptoms of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, or if you feel “off,” test your blood sugar to confirm your suspicions.
• Document Readings: Keep a log of your blood glucose readings to identify patterns and trends that can help you better manage your diabetes.
• Don’t Assume After Exercise: Even if you feel fine after physical activity, don't assume your blood sugar is stable; always check.

8. Not Talking to Your Healthcare Provider

Regular communication with your healthcare provider is essential for effective diabetes management. Many people neglect to discuss their blood glucose monitoring practices and results with their doctors or diabetes educators.

Why it Matters:

Your healthcare provider can review your blood glucose logs, identify potential problems, and make recommendations for adjusting your treatment plan. They can also provide valuable education and support to help you improve your monitoring techniques.

How to Avoid:

• Share Your Log: Bring your blood glucose log to your appointments with your healthcare provider.
• Ask Questions: Don’t hesitate to ask questions about your blood glucose monitoring techniques, target ranges, and any issues you are experiencing.
• Follow Recommendations: Follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations for adjusting your medication, diet, or exercise routine based on your blood glucose results.
• Seek Professional Advice: Seek guidance from a certified diabetes educator (CDE) who can provide personalized training and support.

By avoiding these common mistakes and adhering to proper blood glucose monitoring techniques, you can ensure more accurate results and better manage your diabetes. Consistent and reliable monitoring, coupled with open communication with your healthcare provider, empowers you to take control of your health and live a fulfilling life with diabetes. Remember, accurate BG monitoring is a critical component of your overall diabetes management plan, leading to better health outcomes and a higher quality of life.