How To Ensure Normal Blood Sugar Readings

The range for normal blood sugar readings is between 70 – 120 mg.  However, there may be times when your reading falls out of those ranges.  What makes it so interesting is that you’re doing everything to keep your diabetes under control.  You’re eating right, drinking plenty of exercising, taking you insulin or other diabetes medication when you’re supposed to……………………So, what’s the problem?

If you feel that you’re not getting normal blood sugar readings, your next step should be to check your blood glucose meter.  First, you should check the test strips to make sure they’re providing accurate counts to the meter.  This is done by conducting a control solution test. 

Whenever you feel that your blood sugar reading is not accurate, it is advisable to do a control solution test on the next strip.  This is done the same way as you would do a regular blood sugar test with the meter.  After the strip is placed in the meter, use a drop of control solution in the place of your blood sample. 

The meter will begin to count and provide you with a range.  Compare that range with the one listed on the bottle of test strips (average range is usually 120 – 198).  If the range on their meter falls within these numbers, then the test strips are still good to use.  If they are out of the range, then they are probably not any good.  Don’t do anything with them until you contact the manufacturer.  They will advise you of what you need to do.  Usually, they will just send you a new batch of test strips.   

Other things you should check for are the batteries.  If you see that the digital display is not operating, remove them and test them in something else.  If you find that they’re still not working, then replace the batteries.

Each meter is different; therefore, the readings may be slightly different.  You can’t compare meters and say that yours isn’t working just because you tested different ones.  If you’ve had your meter for a while, say five years, it may affect you getting normal blood sugar readings.  You’ll probably want to go ahead and get a new one.

There are different meters that test for different things.  Some meters check the blood plasma while others test the whole blood sample.  This can also cause you to have different blood sugar readings. 

Another difference in testing for normal blood sugar readings is that testing at home and at a health care facility can pose different results.  This is because you use one part of your body to test and the health care facility uses another. 

In addition to that, you may be administering your test for normal blood sugar readings at a different time than you would at the health care facility.  In addition to that, you may be feeling totally different when you’re at home versus being at a doctor’s office or laboratory.  Taking tests there would not be a bowl of cherries.  Therefore, you may get tense and stress out, which can contribute to higher blood sugar readings.   

If you’re still having problems getting a normal blood sugar reading with your meter, consult with your physician before you discard of it.