Damaged fingertips

[Hellybell80]

Hello to all,

Is there anywhere else I can take bloods from other then fingers? I do soak my fingers before hand, but I've got nerve damage in most of them and they have got quite painful. It dosnt help while I was at work I was dealing with allsorts of dirt and wet stuff. Gave me a few little finger infections along the way.
I was testing 6 times a day... but while I was working I stopped due to not having anywhere to do it or the fact I kept getting unwanted stuff on my hands. These were 12-16 hour shifts so I've done very little readings the last month or so. Which needs to change.
I wasn't eating either maybe a sandwich in a 24hr period. Didn't take my insulin because I wasn't eating much at all. Only my lantus. Plus didnt want to take my insulin in a toilet... I know sometimes we all have to do it.
I'm no longer working there as I've now done my knee and the long shifts were really hard to manage my diabetes and eat healthy and regular.

 

[Sally71]

I believe it’s possible to use toes and earlobes as well as fingers. (Of course assuming that you don’t have loads of piercings in your ears and actually have a bit of room on them )

 

[Ljc]

You can get glucose meters that have an adapter for alternative sites, it’s often a clear tip that goes on the end of the lancing devise .
I think one of the areas you can use is the palm of the hand .

 

[Flower]

If you read the manual that comes with your glucose meter it will advise you if your meter is suitable for AST -Alternative Site Testing - where you can get the blood from and when it is safe to use AST

My meter advises not using AST if you think your blood sugar is low, changing rapidly, if you don't have hypo symptoms, during illness/stress, if the AST result doesn't match how you feel or if you're driving.

The alternative sites, forearm, palm etc have less nerve ending so the test will be less painful but glucose arrives more slowly to these areas so will be less accurate. The most accurate area for a glucose reading are the fingers which have the most capillaries.

Have you contacted any other meter manufacturers and asked about trying a new meter - they do often send you one out and you get a different finger pricker to try. Saying this I haven't requested a different meter for a few years but they did used to send out one if you use insulin. A different finger pricker may help.

 

[Hellybell80]

Thank you all. Thats given me a few other options while I get my fingers under control.

I'll have to find the box I got my finger prick in and see the instructions. Didnt want to get a new meter as I get these strips on prescription. It was a hell of a issue to get strips on prescription for my first meter I bought.

 

[Flower]

You don't necessarily have to change meters & strips but hopefully you'll get a new finger pricker to try with a few lancets and if it helps you can use it with your existing meter and just change lancet prescription.

 

[Drummer]

Thank you all. Thats given me a few other options while I get my fingers under control.

I'll have to find the box I got my finger prick in and see the instructions. Didnt want to get a new meter as I get these strips on prescription. It was a hell of a issue to get strips on prescription for my first meter I bought.

When taking insulin you have to have some way to check your levels - both meter and supplies for it should have been on prescription.