PERFORMING A BLOOD GLUCOSE TEST WITH ALTERNATE SITE
You have the option of taking a blood sample from other sites on your body besides the fingertip.
The iHealth system allows you to test on your palm, forearm, upper arm, calf, or thigh with
equivalent results to fingertip testing when used appropriately. Remember to replace the lancing
device cap with the clear cap and follow the above “Test blood glucose level” instructions to
perform an Alternate Site Test.
Upper Arm
Forearm
Palm
Finger
Calf
Thigh
Food, medication, illness, stress, and exercise can affect blood glucose levels. Capillary blood
from the fingertips reflects these changes faster than capillary blood from other sites. AST should
be used only during steady-state times when blood glucose levels are not changing rapidly.
You may perform Alternate Site Testing in the following instances:
• In a pre-meal or fasting state (two hours or more after the last meal).
• Two hours or more after taking insulin.
• Two hours or more after exercising.
You should NOT perform AST if:
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• You think your blood glucose is low.
• You are unaware that you might have hypoglycemia.
• You are testing for hyperglycemia.
• Your AST results do not match the way you feel.
• Your routine glucose results fluctuate often.
Caution: Alternate Site Testing should not be used to calibrate continuous glucose monitoring
systems (CGMs). Results from Alternate Site Testing should not be used in insulin dose
calculations.
