How do I check my blood sugar levels if I have diabetes?

Here's how to check your blood glucose level with a glucose meter:

1. After washing your hands, insert a test strip into your meter.
2. Use your lancing device on the side of your fingertip to get a drop of blood.
3. Gently squeeze or massage your finger until a drop of blood forms. (Required sample sizes vary by meter.)
4. Touch and hold the edge of the test strip to the drop of blood, and wait for the result.
5. Your blood glucose level will appear on the meter's display.

Note: All meters are slightly different, so always refer to your user's manual for specific instructions.

Other tips for checking:

• With some meters, you can also use your forearm, thigh or fleshy part of your hand.
• There are spring-loaded lancing devices that make sticking yourself less painful.
• If you use your fingertip, stick the side of your fingertip by your fingernail to avoid having sore spots on the frequently used part of your finger.

People with diabetes once had to test their urine to find out what their blood sugar had been hours before. Now we have these fancy little meters that can tell us in seconds what our blood sugar is right now!

I could write an entire book on meters, and maybe I will, but here are my take-home points. First, be grateful that you can test, instead of complaining that you have to. Second, never take a number personally. It's just a number. Remember that "bad" numbers are just good information that you need to act on. Third and fourth, don't always test at the same time of day; and don't test only when you think your numbers will be low.

Look, low numbers may be good for the ego -- but if you only check first thing in the morning, before you eat, when you know your blood sugar is going to be at its lowest, you're cheating at solitaire. Finding your highest blood sugar numbers is the real name of the game now. I know that some of you are squeamish about high blood sugar, but I want you to change that mindset. I want you to try to find your highs -- seek them out -- and celebrate the victory when you discover where they're hiding.

High blood sugar needs to be fixed. But if you don't look for highs you can't find them. And if you don't find them you can't fix them.