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Bruises all over my fingers!

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Andrea Owens

Andrea Owens

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi there, I'm new and only 3 weeks diagnosed. I'm just getting used to all the testing and injecting and keeping my blood sugar within 6 and 11. I also have to manage the other plethora of meds I already take. The problem is that all of my fingers are covered in little bruises from the testing. Do other people get this? Some are quite painful ..
 
yeah, i call it "diabetes finger" Are you doing the pads (the flat bit? or are you doing the sides. I find (after reading it as advice on here) the sides are much better and heal a lot quicker
 
After following the advice on here to use the sides and not the pads, I have found testing less painful and hardly any bruising.
 
Yeah I have quite a lot of bruises :( lol x
 
I do the sides as well but sometimes I struggle to get enough blood out and get an ERR on my monitor. Guess I'll keep trying thanks for all your replies xx
 
I have some fingers which are harder to get blood out of than others. It does get better, I hated doing it in the beginning.
 
If you wash your hands in warm water before it can help.
I do this, then hold the arm down (of the hand I'm going to use) for about 10 secs, prick on side of pad, leave for a sec or two and then gently squeeze the finger about 1cm away from the place I pricked. This seems to work for me.

Realised after writing that a comedian could have a field day with this post 😎 :D
 
i find my index finger is useless so have given up on that one. I go for the middle finger or the 4th one - never tried the little finger though.
 
I bruise easily now, never used to, so went to Docs and was told 'its because you are old, cant do anything about it, Next Patient Please. So I went next door and asked a Pharmacist who told me it is a problem and its not because you are old you need some Hirudoid cream ask your doc to prescribe some for you. So I booked an appointment with my doc four weeks later, as is the norm, and told him I want some Hirudoid cream he asked why and when I told him about the Pharmacist he said 'thats good advice' I will write a script for you. Now when I bruise this cream works a treat they dissappear quite quickly. The doctors in your area seem to be much better than here in Lincolnshire, we lived 25 yrs in Southbourne, Bmth.
 
Personally don't get bruises no only from my insulin fork my finger pricker I just get wee bit's of dry skin
 
Have you tried adjusting the depth on your stabber (very technical term 🙄). I had ridiculous bruising when using the one that came with my Bayer meter it was just too vicious, the fastclix lancet is much better, no bruising now at all. Putting the old one on the lowest setting helped a bit but it was still vicious. Might be worth considering a different stabber or playing with the depth on the one you have 🙂
 
I used to have loads of trouble but I'm okay now. I only use my little finger left hand, that's the only finger blood will come out of. I use the pad...sides are no good for me. Always wash my hands in warm water beforehand. Can now use the pricker quite a good number of times before having to change the blade. Before I was having to change each time I used it. I don't bruise now either. I went against all advice really, but it works for me. Maybe you could try it.
 
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Andrea Owens said:
Hi there, I'm new and only 3 weeks diagnosed. I'm just getting used to all the testing and injecting and keeping my blood sugar within 6 and 11. I also have to manage the other plethora of meds I already take. The problem is that all of my fingers are covered in little bruises from the testing. Do other people get this? Some are quite painful ..
Click to expand...
just a thought - what number is your pricker on? perhaps you are pricking too deep.
 
Just wait till you're so used to it that you barely ever remember to change the lancet and end up with calluses all over your fingertips!
 
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Remember also NOT to use index fingers or thumbs - the nerve ends could easily be damaged in those digits x
 
Last edited:
Greyhound Gal said:
If you wash your hands in warm water before it can help.
I do this, then hold the arm down (of the hand I'm going to use) for about 10 secs, prick on side of pad, leave for a sec or two and then gently squeeze the finger about 1cm away from the place I pricked. This seems to work for me.

Realised after writing that a comedian could have a field day with this post 😎 :D
Click to expand...

I tried this and it works so much better. Thanks so much
 
No problem. It's horrid when the finger pricking doesn't work or hurts so anything to help it along..🙂
 
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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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