Just cut fruit before checking your blood sugar? Food or juice left on your fingers can affect a home blood glucose meter result. Clean, dry hands and the correct strip help protect the reading.
Three small checks before testing
1. Wash and dry your hands
Wash your hands before the test, then dry them well. Food or juice on your fingers can lead to a wrong result.
2. Check the strip
Use the test strip made for your meter. The wrong strip may stop the meter working properly or give a wrong result.
3. Write down the date and time
Record the result with the date and time, even if your meter stores readings. Like labelling a photo, this gives the number more useful context by showing when it was taken.
A home glucose number does not diagnose a health condition, but it is more useful when the testing moment is recorded clearly.
For more information, see the FDA's Your Glucose Meter guide.
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This article is for general education and does not replace personalised advice from a qualified healthcare professional.