Bit off a weird one

[Leadinglights]

Would never have thought paper would have glucose on it, learn something new everyday. It was my thumb I tested, was told today not to use thumb

Paper is made of cellulose which is basically chains of glucose molecules. Starch is used as filler. So I suppose it could affect measurements if it leaches out onto the fingers.

 

[Woodywoodpecker]

Why would you just use your index finger when you have plenty of other fingers? I would have thought that that would be the one you would need for Braille, so best avoided, just in case.
Personally I use my ring and little fingers mostly because the skin is softer and they are usually the least dirty when I am working up at the stables or in the garden or paddocks and don't have any washing facilities easily available.
I would ask this woman why she just uses her index finger? My bet is that she was told to by a practice nurse but not given a reason. Will be interested if she does have an explanation though.

Will ask her tomorrow

 

[silver minion]

Why would you just use your index finger when you have plenty of other fingers? I would have thought that that would be the one you would need for Braille, so best avoided, just in case.
Personally I use my ring and little fingers mostly because the skin is softer and they are usually the least dirty when I am working up at the stables or in the garden or paddocks

I use all my fingers except little fingers. Only because I struggle to get enough blood from them even I warm them up etc which works with the 6. I don't use thumbs. Not sure why.

 

[SB2015]

With regard washing hands before testing, like others I don’t do this. I was told at the start to carry a damp piece of cotton wool with me in a bag in case I could not get to wash my hands!! I just get the first blood and wipe that away (to ‘wash’ the site and then test the second blob. Now a habit, and I then lick my finger afterwards (much to the horror of some observers)

 

[SimonP]

I rarely wash my hands before testing and I had an odd high one once and when I thought back I had been chopping onions earlier. You wouldn't think onion juice would be particularly high in glucose but compared to blood it probably is. You can get contamination from the most unlikely sources.

Doesn't necessarily need to be glucose itself, if there's something on your hands that interferes with the reaction (glucose oxidase enzyme or similar) it will affect the results.

 

[SimonP]

With regard washing hands before testing, like others I don’t do this. I was told at the start to carry a damp piece of cotton wool with me in a bag in case I could not get to wash my hands!! I just get the first blood and wipe that away (to ‘wash’ the site and then test the second blob. Now a habit, and I then lick my finger afterwards (much to the horror of some observers)

lol, I also lick the blood off my finger afterwards and often get a similar reaction - waste not want not! 🙂

 

[helli]

I too am a "blood licker" (but only my own).
Some years ago, I remember seeing someone selling tiny tissues for wiping the blood after finger pricking. I couldn't believe there was a market for such a thing.