Some meters are expensive. And the ongoing cost of buying test strips can be a burden. But there are a number of different meters with a range of features and prices. Some are very economical. Your diabetes care team can help you choose a meter and show you how to use it.

If you have health insurance, call the member services department to see what your plan covers.

People whose lives are busy sometimes find it hard to test several times a day. Most people have a daily routine – things they do at about the same time every day. Now you need to add blood sugar checking to that daily routine.

Many people find that it makes it easier when they connect the times they check their blood sugar to something they already do regularly. For example, you can connect taking your fasting blood sugar with making coffee in the morning. Perhaps you can set the alarm on your cell phone to remind you to check your after-meal blood sugar two hours after you’ve eaten.

Lack of a convenient place to do testing can also be an obstacle. Or you may not want to have to worry about carrying supplies with you when you are away from home. Where do you keep your supplies and meter? If you keep all of the supplies you need to check your blood sugar together and in one place, it will make it easier and less time consuming to check your blood sugar levels. So try keeping everything you need in one kit.

If you are trying to check your blood sugar a few times a day, you probably need to take your supplies with you when you leave the house. Meters are small, and they require limited blood and little time to get your results. That makes it easy to check your levels wherever you are. Put all of your supplies into a case that’s small enough to pack in a purse, briefcase, or backpack so you can use them at home or away from home.

You may want to get more than one meter so you can keep one where you eat, one in the bedroom, and one at work. Meters may be available free or at low cost when you buy strips in quantity.

Also, don’t let yourself run out of supplies. Be sure to reorder when you have a week’s worth of supplies left.

Many people cringe at the thought of sticking their fingertip with a lancet to draw blood. Here are a few tips to make checking blood sugar more comfortable.

• To increase blood flow to your fingertip, wash your hands in warm water for a few moments right before pricking your finger. (Be sure to dry them thoroughly, though, so you don’t dilute the drop of blood.)
• To increase blood flow, shake your arms briskly at your sides before using the lancet.
• Prick the sides of your fingertip quickly and firmly. (Going slowly and gently is actually more painful.)
• Change where you take your sample. With 10 fingers, each having two sides and a pad, you won’t need to use the same area more than once every few days.
• Using alternative sites gives you more options. Some meters can use blood samples from the upper arm, forearm, base of the thumb, or thigh. However, these readings may not be as accurate as readings from the fingertips.
• Check with your diabetes care team about using alternative sites to check your blood sugar levels.

It’s hard to be motivated to draw blood and keep records unless you can benefit from the information. Talk with your diabetes care team to make sure you know how often and when to test and how to act on your results. Should you increase or decrease the amount of insulin or diabetes medicines that you take? When should you change what you eat, and what should you change? Should you increase or decrease your physical activity for the day? All of these are possible responses to blood sugar results.

Also, keep a written record of your results using a Blood Sugar Diary.

Your diary will help you see what is happening with your blood sugar levels over time. When you and your diabetes care team can see patterns, you will start to understand what is happening in your body and how your care plan affects your blood sugar levels.

Checking your blood sugar may help you keep your levels in your target range on a day-to-day basis. The A1C test measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. It's like a "memory" of your blood sugar levels. It shows how well you're controlling your blood sugar levels over time. Your A1C and your blood sugar levels go up and down together. Here is how they go together:

Lowering your A1C to below 7% reduces your risk of problems from diabetes. Therefore, the A1C goal for most people is less than 7%. Talk with your diabetes care team about your A1C goal. It's recommended that you get an A1C test:

• At least two times a year if your blood sugar is under good control
• Four times a year if you're not meeting your goals or if your treatment has changed

If your self-checking results don’t line up with the results of your A1C test, you may need to look at when and how often you do your testing. You want to be sure that you test as accurately as you can. Here are a few tips:

• Make sure that you store your meter and test strips correctly, in their proper containers. If you are not sure about this, ask your diabetes care team for more information.
• Be sure you have a generous drop of blood on the test strip. If you don’t have enough blood, your results may not be accurate.
• Check your strips from time to time to make sure they are not out of date. Out-of-date strips may give accurate results.
• Be sure you know how to calibrate your meter and that you re-calibrate it as needed. Check the directions or ask your diabetes care team if you are not sure how often to do this.
• Be sure to keep the screen that reads your test strip as clean and dust-free as possible.

A number of things can make it hard to use a meter when checking your blood sugar. If you are having a hard time using your meter, it could be time to find a meter that is easier to use. Your diabetes care team can help you choose a meter and show you how to use it. You can also talk with other people with diabetes to find out which meters they use.

Maybe the meter is right for you, but the instructions are hard to follow. Ask your diabetes care team to show you how to use your meter and then watch you as you use it.

If your vision or coordination makes it hard to test correctly, then you may need to ask a family member or friend to help or to do the checking for you. Ask your diabetes care team to teach your helper how to check.

It’s natural to want some privacy when checking your blood sugar levels. Some of the newer meters are small, quick, and silent. You may be able to check your blood sugar in a quiet corner. Most people probably won’t even realize what you’re doing.

Try to connect checking your blood sugar with another activity you do each day. For example, you can connect taking your fasting blood sugar with making coffee in the morning. Write notes to remind yourself to check your blood sugar levels, and place them where you will see them at the right time – for example, where you prepare or eat food, such as the kitchen or dining area.

It’s normal to feel burdened sometimes by the details of managing diabetes each day. You are not alone in feeling this way. But it is important to learn to find healthy ways to cope with these feelings. Check here for some tips that can help.