What Is The Advantage Of Alternate Site Testing - iHealth BG5 Owner's Manual

There are limitations for doing AST. Please consult your healthcare
professional before you conduct AST. The iHealth system should
only be used for AST under steady-state blood glucose conditions.

What is the Advantage of Alternate Site Testing?

Pain is felt more readily on the fingertips because they are full of
nerve endings (receptors). At other body sites where nerve
endings are not so condensed, pain is not felt as acutely.
When Should You Use Alternate Site Testing?
Food, medication, illness, stress, and exercise can affect blood
glucose levels. Capillary blood from the fingertips reflects these
changes faster than capillary blood from other sites. Therefore,
when testing blood glucose levels during or immediately after
meals or exercise, or when another of the above-noted
conditions applies, take a blood sample from your fingertips
only. AST should be used only during steady-state times when
glucose levels are not changing rapidly. Alternate Site Testing is
suitable in the following instances:
•
In a pre-meal or fasting state (two hours or more after
the last meal)
•
Two hours or more after taking insulin
•
Two hours or more after exercising
Caution: Alternate Site Testing should not be used to calibrate
continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMs). Results from
Alternate Site Testing should not be used in insulin dose
calculations. Do not use AST if:
is low
•
You are unaware that you might have hypoglycemia
•
You think your blood glucose
20