Checking Blood Sugar Levels

2025/05/21

Blood sugar (glucose) level are crucial indicators of your health. Regular monitoring can significantly help in achieving health goals.

You may monitor your blood sugar using:

Consult your healthcare team to determine the most suitable monitoring method for you.

Information about blood sugar monitoring:

How to perform a finger-prick test
How often should you perform a finger-prick test
Our top 5 tips for a less painful finger-prick test
How to keep a record
What to do if your blood sugar is too low or too high

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How to do a finger-prick test

Required tools:

Glucose meter
Glucose test strips
Lancing (finger-prick) device

Learn the correct test procedure from your healthcare team to ensure accurate results and reduce discomfort.

Glucose meter instructions:

Accu-Chek Performa	Accu-Chek Instant	Optium Neo
Click here to troubleshoot the Accu-Chek Performa	Click here to troubleshoot the Accu-Check Instant	Click here to troubleshoot the Optium Neo

To learn more about finger-prick testing in general, you can visit the Diabetes Hub on HealthHub.

How often should you perform a finger-prick test?

Structured testing helps identify patterns and informs necessary adjustments for optimal glucose control. It is more effective than random testing. Consult your healthcare team for a tailored testing schedule and frequency, taking into account individual factors such as risk of hypoglycemia, medication type and adjustment needs. Discuss pre- and post-meal glucose targets with your healthcare team.

Additional testing situations:

During illness:
Increase testing frequency (e.g., hourly or every 2 to 4 hours) when sick. Refer to Managing diabetes during sickness for more information.
Pre-exercise and during critical tasks: Especially important for those prone to low blood glucose
Symptoms of low blood glucose:  Test when experiencing symptoms such as dizziness, hunger and sweating

Top 5 tips for a less painful finger-prick test

Pick a lancing device you are most comfortable with. Speak to your healthcare team for recommendations.
Adjust the penetration depth of your lancing device. Set this to the smallest number needed to obtain a good drop of blood.
Avoid the thumb and index finger.
Use the side of the finger where there are less nerve endings, NOT the tips. Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them before testing. Test on a different finger or a different part of the finger each time. Rotate sites for testing to allow time for healing.
Change your lancets regularly.

How to keep a record of your readings

Keeping a record enhances the value of your blood sugar data. Include information about your diet, exercise and diabetes medications in your records. Sharing these records with your healthcare team enhances the effectiveness of your diabetes management.

Methods of recording:

1) Manual log-sheet

Simply click to download for your own use.

Log-sheet for blood glucose
Blood Glucose Record + Food Diary

2) Smartphone apps

3) Dedicated software programmes associated with your glucose meter
For example, if you use one of the following devices:

FreeStyle Optium Neo glucose meter
- Download the FreeStyle Auto-Assist Neo software onto your desktop and connect your FreeStyle Optium Neo to your desktop
- Or use a third-party software such as Tidepool
Accu-Chek Instant glucose meter
- Download the mySugr app on your phone and pair it with your Accuchek Guide meter. Transfer results from the meter to your phone via blue-tooth.

What to do if your blood sugar is too low or too high?

Too low: Click here for guidance on managing low blood sugar.
Too high: Seek medical advice or consult your healthcare team for appropriate actions.