About Alternative Site Testing
(AST)
IMPORTANT: There are limitations for doing alternative site testing (AST).
Please consult your healthcare professional before you do AST.
What is AST?
Alternative site testing (AST) means that people use parts of the body other than fingertips to check
their blood glucose levels. This system provides you to test on your forearm, upper arm, calf, or thigh
with the equivalent results to fingertip testing.
What is the advantage?
Fingertips feel pain more readily because they are full of
nerve endings (receptors). At other body sites, since nerve
endings weren't so condensed, you won't feel as much
pain as at the fingertip.
When to use AST?
Food, medication, illness, stress and exercise can affect
blood glucose levels. Capillary blood at fingertip reflects
these changes faster than capillary blood at other sites.
Therefore when testing blood glucose during or
immediately after meal, physical exercise, or any other
event, take blood sample from your finger only.
We strongly recommend you do AST in the following intervals:
•
In a pre-meal or fasting state (more than 2 hours since the last meal).
•
2 hours or more after taking insulin.
•
2 hours or more after exercise.
Do NOT use AST if:
•
You think your blood glucose is low.
•
You are unaware of hypoglycemia.
•
Your AST results do not match the way you feel.
•
You are testing for hyperglycemia.
•
Your routine glucose results are often fluctuating.
•
You are pregnant.
About Alternative Site Testing (AST)
Instruction Manual
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Ideal Blood Gluco Manual 9/24/07 12:25 PM Page 5