Version 5.0.0, July 2025. First published June 2016. NDSSFS004 Print Share on Facebook Share on X Key facts Finger prick blood glucose checks can help you keep your blood glucose levels in your target range. You can see how food, activity and medicines affect your levels, so you can better manage your diabetes. Your diabetes health professional will advise you when to do finger prick checks, and what your blood glucose target range is. Subsidised blood glucose monitoring strips are available through the NDSS. Your doctor or diabetes health professional can help you access them. Related pages Hypoglycaemia Sick days Continuous glucose monitoring Type 2 diabetes and me When diabetes makes it tough NDSS subsidised products Find a health service Find a health professional or pharmacy in your area. On this page Why do finger prick checks Who should do finger prick checks How to do a finger prick check Know your target range If your reading does not seem right More information and support Why do finger prick blood glucose checks Finger prick blood glucose checks can help you keep your blood glucose levels in your target range. They allow you to see what makes your blood glucose levels go up or down, and find any patterns in your levels. This can help you understand: if your food or exercise needs adjusting if your diabetes medicine is working well when to see your doctor or diabetes health professional Who should do finger prick blood glucose checks Not everyone with diabetes needs to do finger prick blood glucose checks. Your doctor, diabetes nurse practitioner or diabetes educator may recommend you do if: you start using insulin you start using certain types of medicines your HbA1c is outside of your target range you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. How to do a finger prick blood glucose check Your doctor or diabetes health professional can show you how to do a finger prick check. You can also watch our video demonstration. You will need: a finger pricking device with lancets – used to gently prick your finger and get a drop of blood blood glucose monitoring strips – the blood drop is placed on the strip, which is inserted into the blood glucose meter a blood glucose meter – measures the amount of glucose in the blood on the strip a sharps container – to dispose of lancets safely. Different blood glucose meters are available, some you can get for free. You may also be able to access subsidised blood glucose monitoring strips through the NDSS. Your diabetes health professional can help you choose a blood glucose meter and access the other supplies you need. Worried about finger pricks? It is normal to feel worried or anxious about finger prick checks. Visit our Worries and fears page for information and support. When to check your blood glucose levels When to check blood glucose levels is different for everyone. Your doctor or diabetes health professional will advise you when to check your blood glucose levels and can help you fit it into your routine. Common times to check are: when you wake up before meals 1 to 2 hours after meals before bed before driving, and every 2 hours for long distances before, during and/or after exercising. You may be advised to check more often if: you are feeling sick or stressed your levels are often outside of your target range your routine changes there are changes to your medicines or insulin you are planning pregnancy you are pregnant or breastfeeding you are going to have or have recently had surgery. Recording your results Record your results and bring them to your appointments for your health professional(s) to review. This will help them see any patterns in your blood glucose levels. They can then adjust your medicines or insulin if needed, or advise you on other changes that may help manage your diabetes. Most blood glucose meters store results. You can take your meter to appointments, or download your results to a computer to share with your health professional. Some meters have apps that your health professional or clinic can connect to. You can also write down your results in a diary or record book and bring that to your appointments. Your target blood glucose range Your target blood glucose range will depend on the type of diabetes you have, your age, how long you have lived with diabetes, medicines you use, and any other health conditions you have. Ask your doctor or diabetes health professional what your blood glucose target range is. The target ranges below are a general guide only, and your target range may be different. Before meals or fasting4–7 mmol/L Two hours after starting meals5–10 mmol/L Blood glucose ups and downs When you start checking your blood glucose levels, you will likely see that they change throughout the day. This is normal. Blood glucose levels can go up or down for many reasons, including: food or drink exercise or physical activity diabetes medicines or insulin emotional stress or excitement hormonal changes illness or pain alcohol some medicines, such as steroids If your reading does not seem right Sometimes, you may be surprised by your blood glucose reading. If it does not seem right to you, there are a few things to check: Did you wash your hands and dry them well before you did the check? Traces of sugar or carbohydrates on your fingers can cause false highs. On the other hand, water on your fingers can dilute your blood and cause false lows. Did you apply enough blood to the strip? If the blood drop was not big enough to fill the testing chamber on the strip, you may get an incorrect reading. Have you been drinking enough water? Your blood gets more concentrated if your body does not have enough water. This can cause false highs. Are the strips past their use-by date? Blood glucose check strips that are past their use-by date may not measure your glucose levels correctly. Have the strips been affected by moisture, heat or light? Strips that have not been stored correctly can get damaged. Is the meter clean? Dirt or old blood on the meter can affect the results. Is the meter too hot or cold? Check that the meter is within the temperature range recommended by the manufacturer. Is the battery low? Replace with a fresh battery or charge the meter. If you are not sure, check your blood glucose level again. If your meter is not working properly, contact your diabetes health professional or the manufacturer. More information and support Call the NDSS Helpline on 1800 637 700 to ask to speak to a credentialled diabetes educator Go to the Australian Diabetes Educators Association website at https://www.adea.com.au/ to find a credentialled diabetes educator Go to Healthdirect at https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/ to find a diabetes health professional near you This information is intended as a guide only. It should not replace individual medical advice. If you have any concerns about your health, or further questions, you should contact your health professional. Sources Healthdirect (2024). Devices to self-monitor your blood sugar. American Diabetes Association. Check your blood glucose – diabetes testing and monitoring. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (2024). Management of type 2 diabetes: A handbook for general practice Australasian Paediatric Endocrine Group and Australian Diabetes Society (2011). National evidence-based clinical care guidelines for type 1 diabetes in children, adolescents and adults.
