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A glucometer is a small device that measures the amount of glucose, or sugar, in a blood sample. It is also called a blood glucose meter. People with diabetes use it to check blood sugar at home, at work, or while traveling. The reading helps guide daily care, but treatment decisions should follow the person's care plan.
read more about glucometer ...Most glucometers use a disposable test strip and a small drop of blood from a fingerstick. Chemicals on the strip react with glucose in the blood. The meter reads that reaction and displays a blood glucose number. The user should follow the meter manual because strips, coding, sample size, and timing vary by brand.
A care team can tell you when to check blood glucose based on diabetes type, medicine, meals, exercise, and symptoms. Some people check before meals, after meals, before driving, before bed, or when blood sugar feels low or high. A single reading gives one moment in time. Patterns over several readings are more useful for care decisions.
Dirty hands, expired strips, poor storage, not enough blood, wrong strip type, temperature, moisture, or meter damage can affect results. Washing and drying your hands before testing can reduce residue from food or lotions. Test strips should be kept in the correct container and closed tightly. If a reading does not match how you feel, recheck and follow your care plan.
Fingerstick devices should not be shared because blood can spread infection. Blood glucose meters should be assigned to one person unless the device is made for professional shared use and cleaned after each use. Lancets should go in an approved sharps container after use. Bring your meter to visits if your care team wants to compare readings or review stored results.
No. A glucometer checks blood glucose from a small blood sample at one point in time. A continuous glucose monitor tracks glucose trends through a sensor worn on the body.
Food, lotion, dirt, or sugar residue on your fingers can affect the reading. Washing and drying your hands helps the meter read the blood sample more accurately.
Personal meters and fingerstick devices should not be shared. Shared professional-use meters need cleaning and disinfection after each person, based on the device instructions and facility policy.
Wash your hands, use a new strip, check the strip date, and repeat the test. If the number still does not match how you feel, follow your care plan or contact your clinician.
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