How to Evaluate Fasting Blood Glucose Levels for Diabetes
- 1). Fast for 12 to 14 hours, avoiding both food and beverages. It is most convenient for most people to take the test after they wake up in the morning.
- 2). Wash your hands thoroughly in warm water to clean them of any contaminants and to stimulate blood flow.
- 3). Insert the test strip into your blood glucose meter. The meter should automatically turn itself on.
- 4). Puncture the side of your fingertip using a lancet.
- 5). Wait a few seconds for a drop of blood to form at your fingertip.
- 6). Touch the drop of blood to the test area on the testing strip, which will absorb the necessary amount of blood and begin the test.
- 7). Wait for the blood glucose meter to display your blood glucose reading. It should only take a few seconds.
- 8). Determine whether your blood sugar level is within a normal range. According to Diabetes Life, a normal fasting blood glucose level is between 70mg/dL and 100mg/dL. Below this level is considered hypoglycemic. According to the National Institutes of Health, a reading between 100mg/dL and 126mg/dL shows that you are pre-diabetic. A reading higher than 126mg/dL is considered to indicate diabetes.
- 9). Wash your punctured finger and apply a bandage if necessary.
- 10
Discard the testing strip and lancet.
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