Blood Sugar Testing Mistakes That You Need to Avoid

by Jay S. Certified Diabetes Educator

Living with diabetes and managing it comes with a set of basic necessities, the most important of which is monitoring blood sugar levels on a regular basis. You can also examine the influence of food, exercise, and other lifestyle changes on your blood sugar levels. Moreover, you can also discuss it with a dedicated diabetes educator or healthcare expert who can better assist you in managing diabetes and maintaining a normal blood sugar level.

Although sugar monitoring devices such as a portable glucometer make it easier to control diabetes by allowing you to take frequent blood sugar tests even when you're on the go, they must be used with caution and according to the correct instructions to guarantee that the readings are reliable. Let's take a look at some of the most typical mistakes people make when obtaining blood sugar readings with diabetes monitoring devices.

5 Mistakes to Avoid
Several elements must be considered as part of diabetes treatment, from the first purchase to the final use of the glucometer (blood sugar testing machine), in order to avoid the following common mistakes made by diabetics:

Purchasing a Glucometer that is incompatible with your everyday routine.

Every person's lifestyle and demands are different, but one thing that all diabetics must do on a daily basis is measured their blood sugar levels. If you travel regularly, you'll need a glucometer that can monitor glucose levels quickly and easily. A blood sugar monitor with a larger display would be considerably easier to use and read for an elderly person at home. You can use a BeatO glucometer that connects with your mobile phone and gives your accurate readings and timely reminders.

The Glucometer was set up incorrectly, and the testing time was incorrect.

All of your reading reminders and sugar level logs can go haywire if basic sugar testing isn't done correctly with respect to the date, day, and time. Another big blunder that leads to erroneous readings is monitoring your blood sugar levels right after eating. If you're on diabetic insulin, be particularly cautious.

Not Maintaining Hygiene Before Sugar Testing

The most crucial part of blood sugar monitoring is maintaining hygiene. Even though your hands appear to be clean, you must wash them before getting a reading. It has been noticed that washing hands before taking a reading has a significant impact on your test findings.

Pricking Fingertip

Pricking the fingertip is not only more painful, but it also causes less blood to be squeezed out. The most sensitive part of the human body is the fingers, which contain all nerve endings. Placing the hands flat with the fingers and palms pressed together and then pricking the edges is the ideal method.

Meal Skipping

Although this may not appear to be significant, if you consider the larger picture of its significance for both diabetics and non-diabetics, you will be better equipped to judge the situation. If you don't eat, your blood sugar levels will rise, potentially leading to insulin resistance or diabetes.

Having Too Much or Too Fewer Fruits

It is a prevalent myth that diabetics are unable to consume fruits because they contain natural sugar. You should not fully avoid or overindulge. When you have diabetes, you should eat fruits in moderation. Coutinho recommends eating fruits throughout the day to avoid consuming too much fructose.

Unmanaged Stress

Stress is more dangerous than you may believe. It can have an impact on your hormones, mental health, and physical health. Diabetes patients are also harmed by chronic stress. According to research, stress can raise blood sugar levels and harm your heart health.

All of these errors can be prevented if one is cautious with their readings and takes all necessary measures when using the glucometer. Even though it is critical to take regular readings, just as it is to take insulin for diabetes, it is also crucial that the findings are accurate every time and recorded for easy access in your diabetes management app.