Using a Diabetes Strip to Test Your Blood Sugar

Home monitoring of your blood sugar is one of the most important things you can do to take charge of your diabetes. And knowing how to properly use a diabetes strip to test your blood is the first step in accurate home monitoring.

Here’s how:

1. Use the right strips.
   Make sure that the diabetes strips you’re using for the test are compatible with your meter (check the product packaging before you buy).

2. Use a fresh diabetes strip.
   Expired test strips may give inaccurate results. Test strips are only good for three months after opening the vial. When opening a new vial of diabetes strips for a test, count forward 90 days and write that date on the vial. Throw away any remaining test strips after that date.

3. Check your meter.
   With every new box of diabetes strips you use for testing, you’ll need to use control solution to make sure your diabetes meter is reading the strips accurately.

4. Use the strip properly.
   When you apply the drop of blood to diabetes strip for a test, do not allow your finger to touch the test spot area of the strip. If the entire color spot area does not show full color development (not enough blood) or appears “wet” (too much blood), discard the diabetes strip and repeat the test with a new strip.

5. See if Medicare covers your diabetes test strips.
   If you have diabetes and have a doctor’s order to test your blood glucose at home, you may be eligible for home delivery of diabetes strips and other supplies to test your diabetes. As a Medicare participating provider, Applied Medicals will complete and file all Medicare and insurance claims on your behalf. You pay nothing up-front.* And, if you have qualified supplemental insurance, you may owe nothing at all.

 

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