Blood Monitoring

Blood Monitoring is when you check your blood to see how much sugar is in it. You do this with a small needle that you prick your finger with, so you can get enough blood for the machine. You then insert a strip into the machine and place your finger with the tiny amount of blood onto the strip, the blood then absorbs into the strip and the machine works out how much sugar there is. This is useful as you can see if your B.M's are high or low, and also if you are feeling unwell you can keep an eye on your B.M.

The type of machine I have to check my B.M's is the tiniest machine the Freestyle Papillon Mini , it only needs a tiny bit of blood and takes about 5 seconds to read the B.M.

The proper way to check your B.M. is;

• 
  Wash your hands and dry them well before doing the test.
  



• Use an alcohol pad to clean the area that you're going to prick. With many glucose meters, you get a drop of blood from your fingertip. However, with some meters, you can also use your forearm, thigh or the fleshy part of your hand. Ask your doctor what area you should use with your meter.
  



• Prick yourself with a sterile lancet to get a drop of blood. (If you prick your fingertip, it may be easier and less painful to prick it on one side, not on the pad.)
  



• Place the drop of blood on the test strip.
  



• Follow the instructions for inserting the test strip into the glucose meter.
  



• The meter will give you a number for your blood sugar level.