The quantity of sugar in the blood. We measure the sugar mass or milligrams in a set volume of blood, specifically 1 deciliter (mg/dL). The other unit of measurement goes with number of molecules or millimoles in a liter (mmol/L). A rough conversion divides mg/dL by 18 or multiples mmol/L by 18, but for a more exact conversion check out the following link;

Measuring this is considered an invasive technique since we need to get some blood out of the patient. Unless the patient has a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), we use a device called a glucometer.

1. Set up organize supplies needed;
1. Alcohol swab
2. cotton swab (without alcohol) or 2x2 gauze
3. test strip
4. a plaster bandage
5. the lancet (the needle stabbing thing)
6. glucometer
2. Clean an area to stick with a needle, often a finger, with alcohol. Ask the patient to let the cleaned area dry without touching it.
3. Insert the test strip into the glucometer (for many meters this turns it on).
4. Say “I am sorry this will hurt a little” and stick the patient with the lancet.
5. Wipe the first drop of blood away with the cotton swab or 2x2 gauze. The first drop of blood can be contaminated and give a false reading.
6. Squeeze out an extra drop of blood and suck it up the in the tip of the test strip. Making sure the test strip completely fills with blood avoids glucometer errors from insufficient samples.
7. Wait for the glucometer to give a reading by putting the plaster bandage on the site.
8. Dispose of the lancet and the used test strip appropriately.

Some very basic numbers for blood glucose are listed below;

Generally, we are checking a glucose level if the patient has an altered mental status to check if there is a diabetic emergency. We also check if the patient is a known diabetic to be aware of their sugar level. We do not have to stab everyone. Noninvasive smart watch glucometers are not considered an accurate method for measuring sugar levels.