Narrator: When people with diabetes first learn they have to test their own blood sugar, many have the same response: fear. But today's blood glucose meters and super-thin needles make the process virtually pain free.

Kim Higgins, R.N., certified diabetes educator: We've been taught since we were children not to hurt ourselves and not to injure ourselves, and certainly not to draw blood on purpose. It really is very pain free. The needles that we use today are very very mild. We use the sides of our fingers, we can use the palm of our hand. We can use our arm and even our legs that have fewer nerve endings. And it really is not as painful as most people feel.

Narrator: After she was first diagnosed with diabetes 15 years ago, Sandy Heinisch completely changed her diet, started an exercise routine, and has come to see her meter as her friend.

Sandy Heinisch: I could not be a compliant diabetic without taking my blood glucose levels at least four times a day, at least. I never go out of the house without my meter, I never go on a trip without a meter, I never go to a restaurant without a meter.

Sandy Heinisch: You get to know this meter as a friend. It is not something that is going to hurt you.

Narrator: Blood glucose meters vary a bit in features and color, but they're all simple to use and basically work the same way.

Narrator: Kim Higgins shows us how in six easy steps.

[Graphic montage series of popular blood glucose meters.]

Captions (during orange background section):

Slide 1: Six basic steps:
Slide 2: 1. Load test strips
Slide 3: (wash your hands first!)
Slide 4: 2. Insert lancet
Slide 5: Adjust needle depth
Slide 6: Prick fingertip [on side]
Slide 7: Express a drop of blood
Slide 8: and place it on test strip
Slide 9: Record sugar levels

Kim Higgins: This is the Accu-Chek Compact Plus, and it’s one of the newer versions of this meter. The strips come in a drum, and you simply drop this drum right into the meter and close the meter and it loads it on its own [whirr]. There it is. And that’s as big as it is.

Kim Higgins: And then you’ll put in the lancet -- just a needle -- into the side here, put on the cap. And then all of the meters have an adjustor to be able to look at the depth of how deep you need to have the needle go in depending on how thick your skin is. So we'll go down to about a three; that's usually pretty normal.

Kim Higgins: And then we can simply take this up to the fingertip [click]. Okay? And that's all there is to it. And then express a little blood, from the finger, and touch this. You just need a tiny drop of blood. Wait for the beep [beep]. And then it’s just a few seconds; we'll be able to get a blood sugar.

[Music begins to fade up]

Narrator: And that's all there is to it.

Narrator: Carefully monitoring blood sugar, eating right and exercising are the keys to living a long, healthy life. Just ask Sandy Heinisch.

Sandy Heinisch: Before I was diagnosed, I said to my husband that I couldn't remember the last time I felt good. And now I feel good all the time, because I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing.

Narrator: For Consumer Health Interactive, this is Roberto Johansson.

First published April 13, 2007
Copyright © 2007 Consumer Health Interactive