It is important that you read the guidelines for your blood sugar meter and your finger pricker carefully before you begin using the equipment.

Before you measure your blood sugar

To get the most precise results from your measurements, you must be sure to have clean and dry hands when you measure your blood sugar.

• If, for instance, juice from an apple is left on your fingers, or you may have touched other sweet things, you run the risk of measuring false elevated levels of blood sugar. Blood sugar meters cannot distinguish between blood sugar and, for example, fruit or milk sugar..
• If you have moist hands, you run the risk of measuring false low blood sugar levels as the water will dilute the blood.

If you do not have access to soap and water, an alcohol sponge, or any other wet wipe can be used. Ordinary liquid hand disinfectant is not sufficient. 

Cold fingers can make it difficult to get enough blood for a drop. Therefore make sure that you have warm fingers before making the prick.

How to measure your blood sugar

• Prepare the blood lancet pen. For the purpose of avoiding bacteria and a blunt lancet, you must use a new lancet for every time you measure. Set the lancet's pricking depth.
• Insert the test strip into your blood sugar meter – the device will automatically be switched on
• Use the blood lancet pen on the side of your fingertip. It is important that you do not prick the same place every time you use the lancet pen. Both sides of all 10 fingers can be used.
• It is also possible to measure your blood sugar from an ear lobe or the toes.
• Press out a drop of blood and hold it against the tip of the test strip, until the strip is full.
• The result of the measurement is shown on the display after about 5 seconds.
• Remove the test strip from the device and discard it.
• Dispose of the used lancet into a sharps bin.

If you measure two blood sugar levels, one immediately after the other, test results can and may differ by about 10%. Thus, there is nothing wrong with the blood sugar meter. It is an ordinary error of inaccuracy. You may experience the same if you measure, using two different metering devices.

When you are treated for increased blood sugar, you can apply for reimbursement of test materials (blood sugar meter, lancet pen, lancets and test strips) from your municipality.