Using Your Blood Glucose Meter - One Touch Ultra

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1 Using Your Blood Glucose Meter - One Touch Ultra Introduction Monitoring your blood glucose level is important to controlling your diabetes. This reference summary shows you how to use your blood glucose monitoring meter. Your doctor and nurse may ask you to view this reference summary to help you understand how you will be using your blood glucose meter to test your blood glucose. In this reference summary, we first discuss the different parts of the glucose meter. We then show you how you can check that your meter is working properly. After reviewing how you can obtain a drop of blood from your finger, we show you step by step how you can test your blood glucose. Glucose Monitoring System The blood glucose monitoring system consists of the following parts: 1. The blood glucose monitoring meter, or glucose meter. 2. The test strips. 3. The control solution. Meter Test Strips Solution The glucose meter is the device that displays your blood sugar level. The test strip is where you apply the drop of blood. Your blood sugar level will appear in five seconds after applying the drop of blood The test strip is inserted with the black side facing you. The contact bars are three black bars on a white background, which look like piano keys. The end with the black bars is inserted into the meter. You push the test strip in firmly until it will go no further. The other end of the strip is called the top edge. There is a yellow strip, which is called the test strip. The blood should be applied at the top edge of the strip. 1

2 It will be automatically drawn into the reaction cell. At the top of the test strip, you can see the yellow confirmation window. If enough blood has been applied to the top edge, you will see the blood drawing into the confirmation window completely covering the yellow. If there is not enough blood and some yellow is showing, you will need to discard the test strip and start over. When you insert the test strip, the glucose meter will turn on automatically. If you do not apply a blood sample within two minutes, the meter will turn itself off. You must remove the test strip and insert it back into the meter to turn the meter on again. With clean, dry hands, you may touch the test strip anywhere on its surface when removing it from the vial. To produce accurate test results, you should use the test strips, glucose meter, and the control solution from the same manufacturer. You will also need sterile lancets. Before using the lancet, you will twist the lancet protective disk to expose the needle. Sterile lancets are for a single use only. Never share a lancet Sterile Lancet or a blood sampler with anyone. Many infectious diseases, such as AIDS, can go from one person to another through blood remaining on re-used shared lancets. An adjustable blood sampler is a device that can make it easier for you to lance the fingertip with a lancet. The control solution is used to check that the meter and the test strips are working together as a system. It is also used to check that you are performing the test correctly. Testing your blood sugar should take about 2 minutes after you finish practicing. First, you prepare the meter and make sure it is working. Control Solution 2

3 Second, you take a blood sample. In this reference summary, we will show you how to take a blood sample from the finger. If you are interested in taking a blood sample from the arm, ask your nurse to show you how. To get a blood drop from the arm, select a soft, fleshy area away from bone. It should be free from visible veins or excess hair. Ask your health care provider before you begin using the arm to obtain a blood drop. Third, the blood sample is applied to the test strip. You wait five seconds for the results to appear on the display. Generally, test results below 60 mg/dl mean low blood glucose. Test results greater than 240 mg/dl mean high blood glucose. In this reference summary, we will first discuss how you can check that your meter is working properly. We then review how to obtain a blood drop. Finally, step-by-step instructions for testing your blood glucose are presented. Before Testing Your Blood Before testing your blood sugar you should performs some tests to make sure that the meter is working. These testing activities include Checking the meter display. Coding the meter. Checking the system. Checking the Meter Display You can turn your meter on either by inserting a test strip or by pressing the M button to see all segments of the display. Once you turn the meter on, you will see all parts of the display for a short period of time. During this time, the system is performing several self-checks to confirm that the meter is working properly. Hold the C button down to check that all display segments are working. Coding the Meter Your glucose meter produces accurate results because it is plasma-calibrated. This makes it easier for you and your doctor to compare your meter results with laboratory results. 3

4 When you buy new test strips, you should "calibrate" the meter to go with the test strips. This is called "coding the meter". Your meter will remember the code number of the last supply of test strips you used in the machine. Each time you test, you check that the code number on the meter display matches the code number on the test strip vial. When you use new test strips, you should code the meter. Therefore, the first time you use the meter you must code it. If you do not code the meter correctly, your test results will be incorrect. The next section reviews coding the meter step by step: 1. Find the code on the test strip vial. 2. Make sure the meter is turned off. 3. (If the meter is on, take out the test strip. This will turn it off.) 4. Find the code on the meter. 5. Insert a test strip. This will turn the meter on. All segments of the display will appear. Next, the code number will appear on the display for 3 seconds. (The first time you use the meter, three dashes --- will appear showing that there is no code selected yet). 6. Compare the 2 codes. 7. If the code on the meter matches the code on the vial, do not change it. 8. If the codes do not match, press the C button to select the correct code. Each time you press the C button, the number will increase by one. When you reach the last number, pressing C will take you back to number 1. To move faster, simply press and hold the C button. 9. Wait for the blood drop symbol to appear before proceeding to testing. Checking the System The control solution is used to check that the system is working right. It is also used for you to practice using the system. The control solution has a known amount of glucose. This range is printed on the test strip vial. When you do a control solution check and the results on the glucose meter match the expected results on the vial, you know that the meter is working well. 4

5 If the results of the control solution check do not match the expected results on the vial, you may not be doing the test correctly. Do it again. If you continue to get control solution test results that fall outside the expected range, the glucose meter may not be working properly. Do not use it and call the manufacturer s representative. If it is the first time you use the glucose meter, the control solution is a great way to practice doing the test correctly without lancing your finger every time to get a blood drop. If you are a first time user of the glucose meter, practice with the control solution until you can do three tests in a row that are correct. Then you are ready to test your blood. How to do a control solution test 1. Insert a test strip The meter will turn on automatically and the display check will appear briefly. The code number will appear. 2. Indicate it is a control solution test After the blood drop symbol appears on the display, press the C button to indicate to the meter that the next test will be a control solution. With the ctl sign on the display, the meter will mark your next test in memory as control solution. 3. Apply a control solution Shake the control solution vial well. Remove the cap. Squeeze the vial, discard the first drop, and wipe off the dispenser tip to ensure an accurate result. Squeeze the vial again to get a hanging drop. Apply the hanging drop to the TOP EDGE of the test strip. 4. Read the results The drop will be drawn into the test strip, the yellow confirmation window is filled, and the meter begins to count down from 5 to 1. After 5 seconds, the results will display. 5. Compare the results Compare the results with the range printed on the test strip vial. The results should fall within this range. If the test results fall outside the range printed on the test strip vial, repeat the test. Out-of-range results may be caused by many factors such as: An error in performing the test, such as not following procedures. Expired control solution or a control solution that is too warm or too cold. Expiration of the test strips. Meter malfunction. 5

6 How to Get a Drop of Blood Follow these steps to get a drop of blood from your fingertip using the sterile lancet and blood sampler. 1. Insert a lancet into the blood sampler Twist the cap of the blood sampler counterclockwise to remove it. Insert a lancet into the lancet holder and push down firmly until it is fully seated. Do not twist the lancet. Twist the protective disk until it separates from the lancet. Replace the cap and turn it clockwise until it is snug but not too tight. 2. Adjust the puncture depth You may want to adjust how deep the lancet will lance the puncture site. Twist the depth knob toward the smaller bumps for a shallower puncture or toward the larger bumps for a deeper puncture. 3. Cock the blood sampler Slide the cocking control back until it clicks. If it does not click, the sampler may have been cocked when you inserted the lancet. 4. Wash your hands and puncture site Use warm, soapy water. Rinse and dry thoroughly. 5. Lance the puncture site Hold the blood sampler firmly against the side of your finger. Press the release button. 6. Massage the finger Gently massage the finger to obtain a round drop of blood. Do not squeeze excessively on the puncture site. Do not smear the blood sample. You can now proceed with your blood glucose test. Step-by-Step Instructions Prepare the Meter Gather all supplies needed for the glucose test 1. Insert the test strip, contact bars end first and facing up into the test port. Make sure that you push it firmly in all the way to turn the meter on automatically. 2. Wait for all segments to appear briefly on the display then for the code number to appear. 6

7 3. Check that the code number matches the code number on the test strip vial. Code the meter if necessary. 4. Wait for the blood drop symbol to appear. Prepare the blood sampler 1. Twist the cap of the blood sampler counterclockwise to remove it. 2. Insert a lancet into the lancet holder. Always use a new, sterile lancet. Lancets are for single use only. Push down firmly until it is fully seated. Do not twist the lancet. 3. Twist the protective disk until it separates from the lancet. 4. Replace the cap and turn it clockwise until it is snug but not too tight. 5. Adjust the puncture depth setting if necessary. If needed, twist the knob toward the smaller bumps for a shallower puncture. Or twist the knob toward the larger bumps for a deeper puncture. 6. Slide the ejection/cocking control back until it clicks. If it does not click, it may have been cocked when the lancet was inserted. 7. Wash your hands with soap and warm water. Rinse and dry thoroughly. 8. Lance your fingertip. Hold the blood sampler firmly against the side of your finger, then press the release button. Discard the used lancet. 9. Gently massage the finger to obtain the required blood sample size. Do not squeeze excessively on the puncture site. Do not smear the blood sample. The blood sample should be the size of the head of a straight pin. Apply the blood to the test strip 1. Make sure the blood drop symbol is still displaying. If you do not apply a blood sample within 2 minutes, the meter will turn itself off. If this happens, you must remove the test strip and insert it back into the meter to restart the test procedure. 7

8 2. Touch and hold the round drop of blood to the Top Edge of the test strip, where it meets the narrow channel. Do not push your finger against the test strip or try to apply a smeared sample. Hold the blood drop to the Top Edge of the test strip until blood has completely filled the confirmation window before the meter starts to count down. 3. Check the confirmation window. If the confirmation window does not completely fill before the meter begins to count down, discard the test strip and retest. If the confirmation window is not full, you may get an Er5 message or an inaccurate test result. Read the results 1. Wait for the results to display. Your blood glucose test result will appear after the meter counts down from "5" to "1". 2. Read the results. The blood glucose test results are automatically stored in the meter memory. You may want to record them in your logbook. 3. Turn off the meter. When you remove the test strip, the meter will turn off. Discard the used test strip. Cleaning up After reading your blood results, remember to remove the lancet by removing the cap, then pushing forward on the ejection control to eject the lancet directly into a container for sharp objects. You may want to replace the protective disk on the lancet before ejecting the lancet. Place the disk on a hard surface, such as a table, and push the exposed tip into the protective disk. Always be careful and point the lancet down and away. Return the ejection control to the middle position and replace the cap. Your blood sampler is now ready for the next blood glucose test. Turn the meter off by removing the strip. Never use a test strip again. 8

9 Caring for Your System Cleaning the Meter Since no blood or control solution comes in contact with the meter, there is no special cleaning required. Avoid getting dust, dirt, blood, control solution or water inside the meter through the test port or data port. Store the meter in its carrying case after each use. A cloth dampened with water and mild detergent can be used to wipe down the outside of the meter. The Test Strips After removing a test strip from the vial, immediately replace the vial cap and close it tightly. Use each test strip immediately after removing it from the vial. Do not cut, bend, or alter a test strip in any way. Store the test strips in their original vial only. Store the vial in a cool, dry place below 86 degrees. Keep them away from direct sunlight and heat. Do not refrigerate. Check the expiration date printed on the test strip vial. Do not use if expired because it may cause inaccurate results. Throw the test strips away if expired. The test strip vial expires three months after you open it. Write the expiration date (date opened plus 3 months) on the vial label when you first open it. Throw away the test strips and vials 3 months after first opened. The Control Solution Use only the Control Solution from the manufacturer of your glucose meter. Store with the test strip vials at room temperatures (68 to 86 degrees). Do not refrigerate. Check the expiration date on the control solution vial. Do not use if expired. Use the solution for ONLY 3 months after opening. Record the discard date on the control solution vial (the date opened plus 3 months). Throw away after 3 months. 9

10 Summary Diabetes can be a serious disease that can cause complications, which can lead to death. Controlling diabetes through eating habits, exercising, and monitoring glucose in the blood is now possible thanks to recent medical advances. Your blood glucose meter is one of these recent advances in medicine. It is accurate, easy to use, and can remember your previous test results. This reference summary introduces you to major concepts and skills needed to use your glucose meter. The Owner s Booklet that comes with your glucose meter includes other information such as how to set the date and time of the meter, how to use the meter s memory, and how to interpret display messages. Your doctor and diabetes care team are available to answer any questions you may have about managing your diabetes. Consult with them after using this educational reference summary to answer any questions about the meter and testing your blood. 10