Diabetes in children: Checking blood sugar in a child
What is home blood sugar monitoring?
Home blood sugar monitoring is checking your child's blood sugar level using a home blood sugar meter. This is often referred to as self-testing. Children's blood sugar may need testing more often when they are first diagnosed with diabetes. When your child's blood sugar levels are within a target range, he or she may need to test only before breakfast each day and occasionally at other times of the day. Children who take insulin may need to check blood sugar levels several times a day.
To test your child's blood sugar level, prick the side of a finger with a small needle (lancet) to collect a drop of blood. Place the drop of blood on the test strip inserted into the meter. For some meters, the test strip is put into the meter after the blood is applied. Within a minute or less, the meter shows the results of the test.
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| Author: | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS | Last Updated: December 3, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Stephen LaFranchi, MD - Pediatrics and Pediatric Endocrinology | |
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