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Written By Olabode Ayomide, MD. Medically reviewed by Nelson Unegbu, PharmD (Lyfline Meds).
Blood sugar testing used to mean visiting a hospital or laboratory, which is time-consuming, often financially ineffective, and stressful.
Today, a blood sugar monitor helps you avoid that.
Within five seconds, in the comfort of your room, you can self-check your sugar level and quickly see a physician if it is high. If you’ve been previously diagnosed with diabetes, you can use the monitor to gauge your treatment progress and keep a daily chart for physician assessment.
In this article, we’ll explain what a blood sugar monitor or glucometer is, how to use it, and where to get one.
A blood sugar monitor, also called a glucometer, is a small device that measures the amount of glucose (sugar) in a drop of your blood. The device works alongside a lancet, spring-loaded pen, and a cassette or thin disposable tab.
Once used, your blood sugar level appears as a reading in mg/dl on the glucometer’s screen. You can then compare it with the standard blood sugar levels to determine if you have diabetes, or if the diabetes is well-controlled, supposing you’ve been previously diagnosed.
Checking your blood sugar level in the hospital is effective. But doing it at home gives additional benefits:
When your physician writes a blood sugar request form or reads back your results, they will almost always use abbreviations. Here is what each one means.
If you have not been previously diagnosed with diabetes, your physician may recommend periodic screening based on your age, weight, family history, pregnancy, or other risk factors.
But if you have diabetes, your schedule depends on your treatment plan and how well your sugar level has been controlled in the past. This is typically how that looks:
| Control Level | Recommended Frequency |
|---|---|
| Well-controlled sugar level | 3-4 times a week |
| Poorly controlled sugar level | Every day (once or several times a day) |
Your doctor will recommend how often you should check based on your diabetes type, medications, and blood sugar control. People taking insulin usually test more frequently than those managing diabetes with lifestyle changes or oral medications.
So, what time of the day should you check?
You can check before your first meal of the day (fasting), immediately after a meal, or 2 hours after a meal (2HPP) after an exercise. You can also check before bed rest to ensure your glucose level does not drop dangerously overnight after taking nighttime insulin.
The Accu-Answer Blood Sugar Monitor Kit gives you a fast, 5-second reading in mg/dL from a single drop of blood, and comes with 10 test strips and 10 lancets so you can start monitoring straight away. As a pharmacist-led health store, Lyfline Meds sources every kit for authenticity, and you can reach out for guidance on using it correctly. Order it for ₦21,999, delivered across Nigeria. Buy the Accu-Answer Kit →
Before you check your sugar level with the Accu-Answer monitor, wash and dry your hands. Moisture or food residue on your fingers can affect the accuracy of your reading.
Just a quick note on finger care: do not use the same finger every time. Rotate across all ten fingers and always use the side of the fingertip. Repeated pricking on one spot causes calluses that make it harder to get a clean sample.
ACCU CHEK Active Glucose Meter How to setup and use
The number on your Accu-Answer device screen is your blood glucose level in mg/dL at the moment of testing. Compare it against the figures below to know what your readings mean.
| Type | Normal | Prediabetes | Diabetes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fasting blood glucose | Below 100 mg/dL | 100 to 125 mg/dL | 126 mg/dL and above |
| 2HPP | Below 140 mg/dL | 140 to 199 mg/dL | 200 mg/dL and above |
| Random blood glucose | Below 140 mg/dL | — | 200 mg/dL and above |
“Hi” means your blood sugar is above the meter’s measurable upper limit. Do not wait to see if it comes down. Seek medical attention immediately.
“Lo” means your blood sugar is below the meter’s lower detection limit. This is a medical emergency. Eat fast-acting sugar right away and get to a clinic.
Note that the Accu-Answer meter displays results in mg/dL only, while most lab tests report in mmol/L. If you need to convert, divide your mg/dL reading by 18. So a reading of 126 mg/dL is the same as 7.0 mmol/L. Your physician or pharmacist can help if you are unsure.
Test strips are sensitive to heat and humidity, both of which can result in damage.
Keep your strips in the original container with the cap firmly closed after every use. Store the canister at room temperature, away from direct sunlight, car dashboards, and kitchen countertops near the stove. Do not put them in the freezer.
Before each test, check the expiry date printed on the canister. Expired strips do not produce reliable readings and should be discarded.
Although the Accu-Answer kit comes with 10 strips to get you started, you can always buy replacement strips compatible with the Accu-Answer meter when the old ones run out.
Home glucometers meet international accuracy standards set by the ISO (International Organization for Standardization), which requires that results fall within a defined margin of a laboratory reference value.
Note that the right way to use a home meter is for trend monitoring, rather than as a standalone diagnostic tool.
If your fasting readings have been running between 140 and 160 mg/dL for the past two weeks, inform your physician immediately. If your physician needs a precise clinical reading for medication adjustment, they will order a lab test.
Blood sugar monitors are sold through pharmacies, open markets, and online marketplaces across Nigeria. The problem is that there is a higher chance you end up procuring counterfeit or poorly stored kits, expired strips bundled with meters, and devices with no customer support.
At Lyfline Meds, every kit is sourced for authenticity. As a pharmacist-led store, we can answer questions about how to use the device, what your readings mean, and when a result warrants a call to your physician. We do not just process orders.
The Accu-Answer Blood Sugar Monitor Kit is currently available for ₦21,999, down from ₦25,000, and includes the meter, 10 test strips, and 10 lancets. Pickup is available nationwide. Start monitoring at home →
These are some of the questions other readers ask.
Normal blood sugar ranges are the same worldwide. For a fasting reading, normal is below 100 mg/dL. Two hours after eating, below 140 mg/dL is normal. Your physician may set a personalized target that differs slightly based on your specific condition and treatment plan.
Below 70 mg/dL is hypoglycemia and requires immediate action. Eat 15–20 g of fast-acting carbohydrate like half a bottle of Coke and seek medical help if symptoms do not improve. Persistent readings above 250 mg/dL, especially with vomiting, excessive thirst, confusion, or ketones, require urgent medical attention. If your meter shows “Hi” or “Lo,” treat it as a medical emergency and present at the hospital right away.
The most informative readings are fasting (first thing in the morning before eating) and two hours after a meal. Your physician will give you a specific schedule based on your treatment. If you are on insulin, you will check more often than someone managing with diet and oral medication alone.
Home glucometers meet ISO accuracy standards and are reliable for day-to-day monitoring. If you want to cross-check, take a home reading and a lab test on the same day within a short time window and compare. A small variance is normal. If results consistently differ by a large margin, speak with your physician or pharmacist.
Yes. Expired strips produce unreliable results and should not be used. Check the expiry date on your Accu-Answer meter before each test. Store strips in their original container with the cap closed, away from heat and humidity.
For most people with Type 2 diabetes on oral medication, once or twice daily is typical. People on insulin or with Type 1 diabetes usually check more frequently. Your physician or pharmacist is the right person to set your specific routine.
“Hi” means your blood sugar is above the meter’s upper detection limit and requires immediate medical attention. “Lo” means it is below the lower limit, which is also a medical emergency. In both cases, reach out to your physician immediately.
You can order the Accu-Answer kit directly from Lyfline Meds online, with pickup location across Nigeria. Buying from a pharmacist-led store means you get a verified product and access to guidance on how to use it correctly.
Yes. Every Accu-Answer kit comes with 10 test strips and 10 lancets included. You can start monitoring immediately after it arrives. Replacement strips compatible with the meter are available separately from Lyfline Meds when you run low.
No. Test strips are meter-specific. Using strips that are not compatible with your Accu-Answer device will produce inaccurate readings or no reading at all. Only use strips designed for your specific meter model.
Knowing your blood sugar level doesn’t need to be a clinic activity. That’s slow, cost-ineffective, and stressful. Alternatively, use a blood sugar monitor or glucometer to get it done in the comfort of your home.
If you are ready to start, the Accu-Answer Blood Sugar Monitor Kit from Lyfline Meds is a fast, pharmacist-verified option at ₦21,999 with nationwide pickup. Start monitoring at home →
