Finger Pricking for glucose tests!

[Nadia Robertshaw]

II test my blood sugars approximately 3 times a day.
I’ve been testing for three months but I’m struggling with using different fingers.
All my fingers are full of little bruises

Any hints, tips and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance x

 

[Ljc]

Hi @Nadia Robertshaw . It can take a while to learn how to very technical term here bodge your finger and persuade enough blood to appear.

Here’s a few tips .

Use the sides of the pads ,not near the nail, with a bit if juggling you can use both sides.
It’s recommended we don’t use our thumb or index finger, in case of soreness or infection as they are the ones we use most, personally I’ve always ignored that bit of advise.

To help get the blood flowing, wash hands in comfortably hot water, making sure fingers are properly dry before testing else you will get a false result .

You may have your lancing devise set too high, try turning to the 2nd lowest notch and work up gradually till you find the setting that works for you.

If your re using lancets , it might be blunt and need changing even though it’s not St Swithuns day


After bodging your finger, wait a few seconds before gently squeezing finger, I used to find a rolling action best.

I hope you find this helps.

Their is a blog called painless pricks by Alan S and lots more info you may find helpful in the thread called , Useful links for people new to diabetes at the top of the newbies forum.

 

[C&E Guy]

I've been testing for years - but I just cannot bring myself to do a finger prick if my life depended on it.

I take a lancet with no attachment and slowly pierce the skin on the side of my right index finger. I move around a bit during the day but this slow stab always works for me. I can control the stab myself and I always get a good amount to test.

I've told them this at the clinic and they were not bothered in the slightest.

It works for me.

 

[HOBIE]

I have stopped it now but I used to be able to get blood out of my pinkies without a sharp. Lots & lots of holes in my working mans hands. I think everyone is the same you pick the finger-pricker up & hit the same finger which is natural. Good Luck 😉

 

[grovesy]

I find that the Accu-Chek fastclix, is much kinder than other glancing devices I have used.

 

[SB2015]

II test my blood sugars approximately 3 times a day.
I’ve been testing for three months but I’m struggling with using different fingers.
All my fingers are full of little bruises

Any hints, tips and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance x

Hi Nadia

The advice to avoid the Centre pads of the fingers. There are loads of nerves there and it hurts. Use the sides of your fingers as others have said. I also use the big pad at the base of my thumb to give my fingers a rest. There is a load of space there.

Check the depth of your pricker and take down to the lowest setting and then raise it just enough to get some blood out.

The blunt lancet is my most common problem. I just forget to change it often enough, and then change it when it starts to hurt and I get bruised fingers.

 

[Nadia Robertshaw]

Thanks everyone really appreciate all the hints, tips & advice.

I have the Accu-check fastclick, find that much better than the individual lancets. I’ve probably not been helping myself, as I have used the middle of my fingers.

Will definitely take a look on the useful links page too

 

[CathyB]

I've been testing for years - but I just cannot bring myself to do a finger prick if my life depended on it.

I take a lancet with no attachment and slowly pierce the skin on the side of my right index finger. I move around a bit during the day but this slow stab always works for me. I can control the stab myself and I always get a good amount to test.

I've told them this at the clinic and they were not bothered in the slightest.

It works for me.

This did make me smile, when I first got my kit I couldn’t work the finger prick bit out so resorted to this, it would take me ages to build up the courage to stick it in I felt such a plonker once I did work it out 😳

 

[AdeV]

I tend to use my middle two fingers on my left hand, moving around more or less randomly. They look like pincushions, but don't hurt (sometimes the lancet stings a touch, but usually it's fine. Definitely avoid the middle of the pad, interestingly I find the best place is the front-side quite near the nail - easy to get a drop of blood, and it doesn't seem to hurt. Mind you, I'm weird, so don't take that as gospel....

Agree with the others about the depth of the lance. I had mine at about 4 (deepest is 5) initially (ouch!), now it's at 0.5 & I generally get a big enough drop to test. Sometimes not...