• Make sure your hands are clean before you begin. Use water rather than wet wipes (wet wipes contain glycerine that could alter the result).
• Prick the side of a finger – avoid the forefinger and thumb – not the middle, or too close to a nail, because this will really hurt.
• Use a different finger each time and a different part – this will hurt less.
• If you don’t get much blood, hold your hand down towards the ground. This should make more blood flow to the fingers.
• Make sure your hands are warm – if they are really cold it’s hard to draw blood, and finger-pricking will hurt more.

How often should I measure?

Ask your doctor how often you should check your blood glucose. Some people check their blood glucose once a day. Others do it three or four times a day. You may check before and after eating, before bed, and sometimes in the middle of the night.