How to Check Your Blood Sugar at Home: A Daily Routine for People with Diabetic Foot Risk
patienteducation
A step-by-step home glucose monitoring routine for patients with diabetes and foot ulcer risk — when to test, how to log readings, and what numbers to flag.
If you have diabetes and any history of foot problems, home glucose monitoring is one of the most powerful habits you can build. This guide walks you through a simple daily routine you can start this week.
What you'll need
- A glucose meter and test strips (check that strips match your meter)
- Lancets and a lancing device
- Alcohol wipes or soap and water
- A small notebook or a notes app to log readings
The step-by-step routine
- Wash your hands with warm soap and water. Dry fully — moisture skews readings.
- Load a fresh lancet and set the depth to the lowest setting that draws a drop.
- Insert a test strip into the meter and wait for the ready symbol.
- Prick the side of your fingertip (less painful than the pad) and gently squeeze a drop.
- Touch the strip to the drop and wait for the reading.
- Log the number, the time, and whether it was fasting, pre-meal, or post-meal.
When to test
- Fasting, first thing in the morning before eating
- Two hours after your largest meal, at least a few times per week
- Any time you feel shaky, dizzy, sweaty, or unusually tired
Numbers to flag for your care team
- Fasting readings consistently above 130 mg/dL
- Post-meal readings consistently above 180 mg/dL
- Any reading under 70 mg/dL
- Wide swings between morning and evening
Why it matters for your feet
Every high reading you catch and correct is a small protection for the nerves and vessels in your feet. Bring your log to every visit — patterns tell your clinician far more than a single number.
Learn more about diabetic foot care and how the healing dashboard helps your care team track progress between appointments.