For those of you who test your blood multiple times a day, it can become a little tedious. If you feel the urge to skip a few steps in the process, it’s certainly understandable. However, it’s not a good idea.
The Potential Problems of Not Washing
Washing your hands before testing your blood sugar levels is essential for multiple reasons. Pricking your skin with a sharp object can potentially introduce bacteria or viruses into the wound and your bloodstream. In fact, there have been cases where patients at nursing homes and hospitals were exposed to pathogens, like the hepatitis B virus (HBV), when proper procedures weren’t followed by staff.
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You may be using an alcohol swab to clean the area before you prick, but this might not be enough. Alcohol doesn’t kill all bacteria and viruses, just many of them. It also doesn’t effectively remove all of the dirt, and other things that may be on your skin’s surface.
Using Your Hands To Eat!
There’s another potential issue with not washing your hands before testing. Research has found that if you eat with your hands, the sugar can remain on your skin and cause high test results. This has been particularly true for those who ate a piece of fruit, such as an orange. Even using multiple alcohol swabs to clean your fingers doesn’t seem to ensure an accurate reading.
Techniques for Washing
Truly, the best way to prepare your skin for a finger prick is to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. You’ll also want to make sure to dry the area with a clean towel completely. Of course, an alcohol-based hand cleaner is better than not washing at all and a good option for portable testing kits. Just remember that if you’ve eaten before testing, the results may be a little higher than expected.
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[expand title=”References“]
Infection Prevention during Blood Glucose Monitoring and Insulin Administration. URL Link. Accessed September 27, 2017.
Fruit salad and blood sugar meters don’t mix. URL Link. Accessed September 27, 2017.
Blood Glucose Monitoring: Tips to Monitor Your Blood Sugar Successfully. URL Link. Accessed September 27, 2017.
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