Alternative site results differ from fingertip results when glucose levels are
changing rapidly such as after a meal, after taking insulin, during exercise,
or when you are ill or under stress. Use blood from a fingertip rather than an
alternative site if:
● you think your blood glucose is low,
● you don’t regularly have symptoms when your blood glucose is low, or
● how you feel doesn’t match the results from the alternative site.
● When you have just taken insulin, or any time during or after exercise.
● When there are unknown variables occurring in your day, such as illness.
● Whenever you are about to drive.
1. Physiologic differences in the circulation between the finger and other test
sties like the forearm and palm may result in differences in blood glucose
measurements from the other test sites and your fingertips. Changes in
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