Gestational diabetes - Testing your glucose levels

You can monitor your own blood glucose levels using a simple finger prick test or a urine test.

Finger prick testing

This is what you will need to do it independently:

• blood testing strips
• blood glucose meter
• finger pricking device
• lancets
• blood glucose monitoring diary
• sharps box for disposal of sharps

These are available from your GP or hospital.

Instructions:

• Before doing a finger prick test, make sure you have all your equipment in a clean dry place.
• Wash your hands and rinse well with warm water (dirty hands can contaminate a blood sample and give an inaccurate result).
• Choose your finger and massage it to improve blood circulation.
• Pricking the fleshy part of your finger can hurt. Instead prick the side of the finger away from the thumb. Squeeze your finger gently to obtain a drop of blood.
• Apply the drop of blood to the testing strip. The meter will automatically read the result.
• Note the result in your diary.