A person with diabetes uses a home blood sugar (glucose) test to measure the level of glucose in their blood. The test can be done on a daily basis at home or anywhere, using a small portable machine (blood glucose meter).
A home blood sugar test involves pricking the skin (usually the side of a finger) with a small needle (lancet) to collect a drop of blood and placing the blood on a special test strip, which is checked by a blood glucose meter. The blood glucose meter gives the results of a blood sugar test right away. The results are fairly accurate for the level of glucose in the blood at the time that the test is done.
Testing blood sugar at home is often called home blood sugar monitoring or self-testing.
Current as of: July 7, 2025