10
TESTING YOUR BLOOD GLUCOSE
Lancing and sampling from an alternate site
Sampling from your palm or forearm allows you to use your fingertips less often. You may find that obtaining a blood sample from an
alternate site is less painful than using a fingertip. Getting a blood sample from your forearm or palm is different than getting a sample from
your fingertips.
CAUTION:
Do Not
test on your forearm or palm when:
• You think your blood glucose is rapidly falling, such as within two hours of exercise or a rapid-acting insulin injection or insulin pump
bolus. Testing with a fingertip sample may identify hypoglycaemia or an insulin reaction sooner than testing with a forearm or palm
sample.
• It has been less than two hours after a meal, a rapid-acting insulin injection or insulin pump bolus, physical exercise, or you think your
glucose level is changing rapidly.
• You are ill or during times of stress.
• You are concerned about the possibility of hypoglycaemia or an insulin reaction, such as when driving a car. This is especially important
if you suffer from hypoglycaemia unawareness (lack of symptoms to indicate an insulin reaction).
Remember: Consult with your healthcare professional before using your forearm or palm for testing.
Choose a different puncture site each time you test. Repeated punctures in the same spot may cause soreness and calluses. If bruising occurs at
an alternate site or you have difficulty getting a sample, consider sampling from a fingertip instead. You may want to review the choice of sites
with your healthcare professional.
Choosing the right sampling site at the right time
The OneTouch® UltraEasy® Meter allows you to sample blood from your fingertip, forearm or palm. Forearm and palm sampling is also referred
to as “Alternate Site Testing” (AST). At times, results obtained at the forearm or palm may be different from a fingertip measurement. Talk to
your healthcare professional before you begin using your forearm or palm for sampling.
If you are testing:
Use blood sample from your:
Routinely before meals
Prior to or more than two hours after:
• a meal
• a rapid-acting insulin injection or insulin pump bolus
• exercise
When your blood glucose is changing rapidly, such as:
• within two hours after a meal
• within two hours after a rapid-acting insulin injection or insulin pump bolus, or
• during or within two hours after exercise
When you are concerned about the possibility of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)
Fingertip
Fingertip, forearm, or palm
