In a client with diabetes mellitus, what should the nurse emphasize before conducting fingerstick blood glucose tests?

Using a new, sterile lancet for each test is essential for ensuring the safety and accuracy of fingerstick blood glucose tests. This practice minimizes the risk of infection and cross-contamination between tests, which is particularly important for individuals with diabetes who may have compromised healing capabilities. Additionally, using a new lancet helps ensure that the puncture is clean and reduces the likelihood of obtaining inaccurate readings due to contamination or blood from previous tests.

While cleaning the site before puncturing is important, the emphasis on using a new, sterile lancet highlights the need for optimal hygiene practices in order to prevent infections. This is more critical than puncturing multiple fingers at once or massaging the finger, which could lead to bruising or diluting the blood sample, thus affecting blood glucose measurement accuracy. Each of these practices supports proper technique, but the use of a sterile lancet is the foremost priority in minimizing complications during glucose monitoring.