Common Mistakes Persons with Diabetes Make When Checking Blood Glucose (BG) Related reading: Blood Sugar And Insulin Understanding The Connection In T...

Common Mistakes Persons with Diabetes Make When Checking Blood Glucose (BG)

Effectively managing diabetes largely depends on regularly monitoring blood glucose levels. Checking your blood glucose (BG) helps individuals with diabetes understand how their body responds to food, exercise, medications, and stress. This information is crucial for making informed decisions about insulin dosages, dietary adjustments, and overall lifestyle management. However, even with the best intentions, mistakes can happen during the blood glucose monitoring process, leading to inaccurate readings and potentially compromising health outcomes. This article will highlight common errors people with diabetes make when checking their blood glucose and provide practical advice on how to avoid them.

Why Accurate Blood Glucose Monitoring Matters

Consistent and accurate blood glucose monitoring is more than just a routine task; it's a vital tool for maintaining optimal health. Here’s why:

Informed Decision-Making: Accurate readings empower individuals to make necessary adjustments to their insulin or medication dosages based on real-time data.
Prevention of Complications: By keeping blood glucose levels within a target range, individuals can minimize the risk of both short-term (hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia) and long-term complications (nerve damage, kidney problems, eye damage, and cardiovascular issues).
Personalized Diabetes Management: Each person's body reacts differently to various factors. Regular monitoring helps to identify patterns and trends unique to the individual, allowing for a tailored approach to managing their diabetes.

| Scenario | Why Accuracy Matters | Potential Consequences of Inaccuracy | | -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Before Exercise | To avoid hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia during physical activity. | Inaccurate readings could lead to dangerous drops or spikes in blood sugar during exercise. | | After Meals | To determine how food impacts blood sugar levels. | Inaccurate readings could mask the need for medication adjustments to manage post-meal spikes. | | Before Bedtime | To ensure safe blood sugar levels overnight. | Inaccurate readings could result in undetected overnight hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. | | When Feeling Ill | To understand the impact of illness on blood sugar. | Inaccurate readings might delay appropriate treatment and management of illness-induced blood sugar fluctuations. |

Common Mistakes and How to Correct Them

Many factors can lead to inaccuracies when checking blood glucose. Here's a breakdown of the most common mistakes and specific steps you can take to avoid them:

1. Neglecting Hand Hygiene

One of the simplest yet most overlooked steps is washing your hands thoroughly before testing. Food residue, lotions, or other substances on your fingers can contaminate the sample and lead to inaccurate readings.

The Mistake: Testing with dirty or contaminated hands.
The Fix: Wash your hands with warm water and soap. Dry your hands completely before testing. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and let it dry fully.

2. Expired or Improperly Stored Test Strips

Test strips are designed to react specifically to glucose in the blood. Their efficacy can be compromised if they are expired or exposed to extreme temperatures or humidity.

The Mistake: Using expired test strips or those stored improperly.
The Fix: Always check the expiration date on the vial before using a test strip. Store test strips in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and moisture. Keep the vial tightly closed when not in use. Never use test strips beyond their expiration date, as they may provide unreliable results.

3. Insufficient Blood Sample

Blood glucose meters require a specific amount of blood to provide an accurate reading. An insufficient sample can result in an error message or an artificially low reading.

The Mistake: Not applying enough blood to the test strip.
The Fix: Ensure the blood droplet is large enough to completely cover the test area on the test strip. If the meter indicates that the sample is insufficient, use a fresh test strip and try again. Gently squeeze your finger (avoid excessive squeezing, as this can dilute the sample with tissue fluid) to encourage blood flow.

4. Not Coding the Meter Correctly

Some older glucose meters require users to manually enter a code that matches the code on the test strip vial. This code calibrates the meter to the specific batch of test strips. Modern meters often have auto-coding features, but it's crucial to ensure this function is working correctly.

The Mistake: Forgetting to code the meter or entering the wrong code.
The Fix: If your meter requires manual coding, always double-check that the code displayed on the meter matches the code printed on the test strip vial. If you're unsure how to code your meter, consult the user manual or contact the manufacturer's customer support. For auto-coding meters, ensure the feature is activated and functioning correctly.

5. Using the Wrong Lancing Device Settings

The lancing device allows you to obtain a blood sample by pricking your finger. If the penetration depth is set too shallow, you may not get enough blood. If it's set too deep, it can cause unnecessary pain and bruising.

The Mistake: Using an incorrect lancing device setting.
The Fix: Adjust the penetration depth on your lancing device based on your skin thickness. Start with a lower setting and gradually increase it until you obtain a sufficient blood sample with minimal discomfort. Consider rotating your lancing sites (using the sides of your fingertips) to reduce pain and avoid calluses.

6. Not Calibrating the Meter

Even if you use the meter correctly, meters need to be periodically checked for accuracy, and this is known as calibrating the meter. This can be achieved by performing control tests or against laboratory blood tests.

The Mistake: Not calibrating the meter on a regular basis, leading to inaccuracies
The Fix: Run quality control solution tests at least monthly, when opening a new box of strips, or if you believe your meter is not working properly.

7. Squeezing the Finger Too Hard

It’s important to get a large enough drop of blood to cover the strip completely, but squeezing the finger too hard to force blood out can cause inaccurate readings, and is something many people do wrong.

The Mistake: Squeezing your finger to encourage a droplet of blood.
The Fix: Hydrate to ensure proper circulation in your fingertips. Swing arms around to encourage blood to move to the hands. Allow gravity to help and point fingers downward when sampling.

Best Practices for Accurate Blood Glucose Monitoring

Beyond avoiding common mistakes, incorporating these best practices into your routine can significantly improve the accuracy and reliability of your blood glucose readings:

Read the Meter's User Manual: Familiarize yourself with the specific instructions for your blood glucose meter. Different meters may have slightly different procedures or requirements.
Related reading: Understanding Insulin Its Critical Role In Blood Glucose Control
Regularly Check Control Solutions: Use control solutions to verify the accuracy of your meter and test strips. Perform control tests according to the manufacturer's instructions, especially when you open a new vial of test strips or suspect that your meter may be malfunctioning.
Keep a Log of Your Readings: Record your blood glucose readings, along with any relevant information such as meals, exercise, medication dosages, and any symptoms you may be experiencing. This log can help you identify patterns and trends in your blood glucose levels, and it can also be valuable for your healthcare provider.
Discuss Your Readings with Your Healthcare Provider: Regularly discuss your blood glucose readings with your doctor or diabetes educator. They can help you interpret your results, make necessary adjustments to your treatment plan, and address any concerns you may have.
Replace Your Meter Periodically: Blood glucose meters can become less accurate over time. Consider replacing your meter every few years, or as recommended by the manufacturer.

Technology Advances in Blood Glucose Monitoring

Blood glucose monitoring technology is constantly evolving, offering new and innovative ways to manage diabetes. Being aware of these advancements can provide individuals with more options and greater flexibility in their monitoring routines.

Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs): CGMs are devices that continuously track glucose levels throughout the day and night. They use a small sensor inserted under the skin to measure glucose in the interstitial fluid. CGMs can provide real-time glucose readings, trend arrows indicating the direction and rate of change of glucose levels, and alarms to alert users to high or low glucose levels.
| Feature | Benefits | | :--------------------- | :--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Real-time Monitoring | Provides continuous insights into glucose levels, eliminating the need for fingersticks. | | Trend Arrows | Predicts the direction and rate of change of glucose, enabling proactive adjustments. | | Customizable Alarms | Alerts users to high or low glucose levels, preventing potentially dangerous situations. |
Smartphone Connectivity: Many modern blood glucose meters can connect to smartphones via Bluetooth, allowing users to automatically log their readings and share data with their healthcare providers. Smartphone apps can also provide additional features such as personalized insights, reminders, and educational resources.
Non-Invasive Glucose Monitoring: Researchers are actively developing non-invasive glucose monitoring technologies that do not require fingersticks. These technologies include devices that measure glucose levels through the skin using sensors or other techniques. While non-invasive glucose monitoring is not yet widely available, it holds great promise for the future of diabetes management.

Conclusion

Accurate blood glucose monitoring is essential for effective diabetes management. By avoiding common mistakes and following best practices, individuals with diabetes can ensure that their readings are reliable and can use this information to make informed decisions about their health. Embracing technological advances in glucose monitoring can also provide additional tools and insights to improve diabetes control and quality of life. Regular communication with a healthcare provider is crucial for interpreting blood glucose data and adjusting treatment plans as needed. Consistent, accurate blood glucose monitoring empowers individuals with diabetes to take control of their health and live full, active lives.