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Testing blood when you can't wash hands

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Ginger

Ginger

Active Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Is it possible to buy those little alcohol wipes like medics use to sanitise your skin before extracting blood? I am sure I saw something similar recommended to people that have to test when they are out and about. I am hardly ever out but am sometimes stuck in bed but would still like to be able to test. I was thinking of using cleaning wipes (like baby wipes or tea tree wipes) but they probably leave a residue on the skin and that may affect the test. Thanks.
 
Hi Ginger. You don't actually need anything to sanitise your skin, its just to wipe off anything that could
skew the test something like moistened cotton wool will do, a quick wipe then dry,
 
Hi Ljc, thanks for that. I saw a video on youtube about finger pricking and it mentioned swabbing the finger first but I guess they were being hyper careful.
 
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Accu-chek one of the meter companies make some swabs but the cost around £1 for 10 swabs.
 
My DSN wanted me to do a test at one of my appointments but I'd literally just had my lunch in the waiting area, I didn't really want to wash my hands again as I had bad dry skin back then from over washing my hands so my DSN just wet a bit of paper towel for me to use, no sense in wasting money if you've got things lying about the house you could use 🙂 x
 
I carry some alcohol swabs in my test kit..... When I'm on a SAR callout I can get a little dirty so it just helps a little.
 
£2 per 100 from Amazon - hundreds of suppliers, if you really feel the need, can't say I bother that much.
 
I thought that you aren't supposed to use alcohol wipes because alcohol is a sugar and could make the result come out wrong? Best use wipes without alcohol in!
Or just use a wet tissue as others have said 🙂
 
Or if nothing available, just wipe away the first bit of blood that comes through (that might get gunky bits from your skin) and test on the next blob.
 
I only worry if I know I've been touching something dirty or sugary. I test too often to be washing my hands every time.
 
I had OCD before being diagnosed like that bad I would wash my hands after touching anything someone else might have been touching (not my family but if I bought stuff I thought someone might have touched in the shop) it was a horrible way to be living my life but I had lived that way since I was around 13-14 so 10 years, my skin on my hands were bright red, I had bad open splits on my wrists which were made worse by working as a cleaner on a building site in the snowy winter months they were so sore and do you know what I don't wash my hands anywhere near as much as I used to, I only wash them when I'm about to test or when I've been to the loo and this was with no professional help they feel and look great now 🙂 x
 
I use that gel stuff but any wipe will do the job
 
Thanks for the advice and tips, guys. I will probably just use a damp cloth when I am stuck in bed as that seems the easiest, but will also get a few wipes to put in my testing kit for if I am ever wanting to test when outside. All those germs out in the community 😱 I have to be more careful to avoid infections these days so better safe than sorry and all that.

Cheers again 🙂
 
I get mine in packs of 100 from my local chemist but I have seen them in some of the discount stores too
 
Kaylz said:
I had OCD before being diagnosed like that bad I would wash my hands after touching anything someone else might have been touching (not my family but if I bought stuff I thought someone might have touched in the shop) it was a horrible way to be living my life but I had lived that way since I was around 13-14 so 10 years, my skin on my hands were bright red, I had bad open splits on my wrists which were made worse by working as a cleaner on a building site in the snowy winter months they were so sore and do you know what I don't wash my hands anywhere near as much as I used to, I only wash them when I'm about to test or when I've been to the loo and this was with no professional help they feel and look great now 🙂 x
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Well done, Kaylz.I know hard it is to get through ocd. You should be very proud of yourself.
 
I use alcohol wipes when I'm out and about for my fingers and when I inject my insulin
 
lesley from Chelmsford said:
I use alcohol wipes when I'm out and about for my fingers and when I inject my insulin
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What do you mean when you inject your insulin hun, you don't have to clean the area you are about to inject x
 
spiritfree said:
Well done, Kaylz.I know hard it is to get through ocd. You should be very proud of yourself.
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I am very proud of myself 🙂 others might not think much of it but when you've been that way for 10 years and finally manage to break it there is no better feeling 🙂 and it was only since being diagnosed as type 1 I've managed to do it so although being diagnosed with diabetes is awful it has helped me get rid of the burden of OCD x
 
Well done Kaylz. You should be very proud of yourself.
 
Kaylz said:
What do you mean when you inject your insulin hun, you don't have to clean the area you are about to inject x
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I always do its just something I've done since injecting
 
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