Glucose Screening Rehearsal

Step 1

Introduce your name and title

Put on lab coat and gloves

Step 2

Check test strips for expiration date and say what the date is, even if it’s expired.

“I am checking the expiration date, which is _”

Step 3

Swab the puncture site with alcohol

Do NOT rub or blow on the swabbed finger after placing alcohol

Step 4

Take a test strip, insert it into the machine correctly, and set it down

If machine turns off, pull out the strip and re-insert

Step 5

Using lancet, puncture the finger on the side of the finger pad, and dispose into sharps container.

Collect blood into the well of the test strip, read/write down result, and dispose the test strip into sharps container.

Step 6

Discard used gloves, gauze, bandages, and other biohazard material into the biohazard waste container

Step 7

Outlines goals for A1C (not required to define the term)

“If you don’t have diabetes, a healthy A1C level is below 5.7%”

“If you have diabetes, a healthy A1C level is below 7%”

Step 8

Outline goals for FPG and PPG (but do not use these terms)

“Fasting plasma glucose is your blood sugar after 8 to 10 hours of not eating.”

“Postprandial plasma glucose is your blood sugar 2 hours after having a 1st bite of food.”

If you don’t have diabetes, your ideal fasting blood sugar is between 70-99 mg/dL, and your ideal postprandial blood sugar is under 140.”

“If you have diabetes, your ideal fasting blood sugar is between 80-130 mg/dL, and your ideal postprandial blood sugar is under 180.

Step 9

State at least 3 signs and symptoms of low blood sugar (do NOT say hypoglycemia)

hunger

shakiness

weakness

nervousness

sweating

dizziness or light-headedness

confusion

Step 10

Explain the “Rule of 15” to treat hypoglycemia

“To treat low blood sugar, you can consume 15 g of carbohydrate. E.g., ½ cup of orange juice or regular soda, a few pieces of candy, or a cup of skim milk. Then, recheck blood sugar in 15 minutes to ensure your blood sugar is over 70 mg/dL. If it’s still too low, repeat. Once your blood sugar is above 70, a snack or meal should be eaten.”

Step 10

State at least 3 signs and symptoms of high blood sugar

Fatigue

Increased urination

Increased thirst

Increased hunger

Blurred vision