Management

Checking Your Blood Sugar

Choose a preferred language

Step-by-Step

  • Supplies for checking blood sugar, including glucometer, lancet, lancet holder, test strips, and cotton balls.

    1. Gather your supplies.

  • Hand holding open instruction booklet for glucometer.

    2. Read your glucometer instructions.

  • Hands scrubbing with soap under faucet with running water.

    3. Wash your hands.

  • Hands drying with towel.

    4. Dry your hands with a clean towel.

  • Hand holding clean lancet between thumb and index finger.

    5. Use a clean needle (lancet).

  • One hand holding lancet holder and other hand inserting lancet into lancet holder.

    6. Place the lancet in the holder, if you use one.

  • One hand holding glucometer and other hand inserting test strip into glucometer, with test strip bottle in background.

    7. Insert a test strip in the glucometer.

  • Hand with palm up and highlights on inside and outside of pads of all 5 fingers.

    8. Use any finger.

  • One hand holding lancet in lancet holder and poking side of index finger on other hand with lancet.

    9. Poke the side of your finger.

  • One hand squeezing drop of blood from index finger on other hand.

    10. Squeeze a drop of blood from your finger.

  • One hand holding glucometer with test strip touching drop of blood from index finger on other hand.

    11. Test your blood.

  • One hand holding cotton ball to left index finger on other hand.

    12. Stop any bleeding.

  • Lancet being ejected from lancet holder into sharps container.

    13. Throw the lancet away.

  • Hand writing down results with pen and paper.

    14. Record your results.

Online Medical Reviewer: Marianne Fraser MSN RN

Online Medical Reviewer: Raymond Kent Turley BSN MSN RN

Date Last Reviewed: 09/01/2023

© 2000-2026 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.

Your family’s health is our priority.

From routine checkups to specialized pediatric care, our family of doctors is here for yours.

Find a Doctor
Related Articles
Read article
Diabetes
Treating Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)

Here are images showing how to treat low blood sugar if you have diabetes.

Read article
Diabetes
Using a Blood Sugar Log

To help manage your diabetes, you'll need to check your blood sugar level as directed by your healthcare provider. Keeping a log of your blood sugar levels will help you track your blood sugar readings.

Read article
Diabetes
Step-by-Step: Checking Your Blood Sugar

This video shows the steps to check your blood sugar.

Read article
Diabetes
How to Check Your Blood Sugar

Monitoring the level of sugar (glucose) in your blood is the key to controlling your diabetes. To be sure your glucose and insulin are in balance, check your blood sugar regularly. You can check your blood sugar level by using a blood glucose meter. Here's how.

Powered by

WebMD Ignite

Copyright © 2026 WebMD Ignite except where otherwise noted.

About

Terms of Use

Privacy Policy

Disclaimer

 

NCQA Certified
URAC Certified