Diabetes & Finger Prick Test

The finger prick test produces a surface wound in your finger in order to collect a few drops of capillary blood (blood from the small blood vessels within your finger). The finger prick produces a droplet of blood on the end of your finger which is sucked up into the monitoring device either directly or using a strip of paper. This blood is then used by to test your blood sugar level (the amount of sugar present in your blood) and the monitoring device will give you a reading that will let you know if your sugar levels are within the normal range, if they are low (suggesting that you need to eat) or if they are high (which could mean that you require an insulin injection if you have type I diabetes). If you have just been diagnosed with diabetes then the exact interpretation of the monitoring device reading will be discussed with you either by your GP or your diabetic nurse. If you are carrying out a finger prick test on yourself then you should ensure that you use a clean finger, you always use a fresh strip, you check (and possibly reset) the monitor regularly and that you discuss any concerns you have with the use of the device with your GP or diabetic nurse at the earliest opportunity.    

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