This section may be photocopied and distributed to families. 2. Wash your hands and the child’s hands with soap and water. 3. Position the child’s hand below the heart for a few minutes before performing the skin puncture. 4. Turn on the glucose monitor. Some monitors automatically turn on when the strip is inserted. 5. Remove an unused reagent meter strip from the container and insert it into the glucose monitor. Make sure the reagent strip is inserted correctly (see manufacturer’s directions for meter being used). 6. Choose a finger to puncture (prick)—the side of the finger is best—and do not puncture the center of the fingertip. 7. Remove a clean lancet from the container and insert it into the automatic lancing device as indicated by the manufacturer. 8. Remove the lancet tip cover to expose the tip. Take care not to touch the lancet tip. 9. Cleanse the area of the finger to be punctured with an alcohol preparation or warm water. Allow the finger to dry completely. It may be helpful to warm the selected finger with a warm moist cloth before performing the puncture. 10. Place the automatic lancing device firmly against the side of the selected finger and push the release button on the lancing device, which causes the lancet to pierce the skin. NOTE: Some of these automatic devices can be adjusted to decrease the pain associated with lancing. 11. Lightly squeeze the finger above the puncture site until a drop of blood appears. (Some meters recommend wiping away the first drop of blood with a cotton ball. Follow the manufacturer’s or health professional’s directions.) 12. Hold the reagent strip pad next to the drop of blood so the blood is transferred to the reagent strip. If a sufficient amount of blood is not transferred to the reagent strip, the meter may not read properly and another puncture may be necessary. 13. The meter timer is activated once blood transfer is complete on many meters. Some meters require a timer button to be pressed. 14. Apply gentle pressure to the puncture site for 1 to 2 minutes with a clean cotton ball or clean tissue (follow your health professional’s directions). 15. Read the meter once the timer sounds. 16. Dispose of the reagent strip, used lancet, and cotton ball in a proper receptacle. 17. Record the glucose meter reading in a log or diary as requested by the health professional.
Wilson & Hockenberry: Wong’s Clinical Manual of Pediatric Nursing, 8th Edition
Patient Teaching Guide
Blood Glucose Monitoring
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