Does lancing your finger get any easier?

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AshMc

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Hello all, I'm Ash.

A couple of weeks ago I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, took a few hours to be worried and whatnot, and then visited Diabetes UK site which naturally lead me here. This is a really lovely, friendly oasis on the internet, and you're all to be congratulated for that.
Deciding that now was as good a time as any to finally start taking care of myself, I've started eating more healthily (1000-1500 calories a day - I do need to lose a fair amount of weight - and sticking to under 100g for carbs, no grains etc) and getting back to taking a couple of long-ish walks per day. I also bought a monitor, which I picked up yesterday and started using before dinner last night.

My main gripe is that it's taking 3, 4 attempts to get a reading. I'm hoping there's a knack to it we all pick up after a bit?
 
I got loads of error messages at first. It's all about practice. Too much or too little blood main problem and touching the blood with the strips leading edge allowing the blood to flow naturally down the strip. You'll get there
 
Welcome @AshMc
Sorry you are having problems with finger pricking.
There is a bit of a knack to it but it depends on what problem you are seeing.
- Are you struggling to get enough blood. If so, the best advice is to make sure your hands are warm before pricking. I tend to "cuddle a cuppa" before pricking my finger to bring the blood to the surface.
- Are you getting plenty of blood but failing to get a reading from the test strip? The usual reason for this is where we place the blood. The strips work trough capillary action - place your finger at the tip of the strip and it will "suck up" your blood. It does not work by dropping or smearing blood onto the strip
- Have you adjusted the "prick length"? Most lancet devices will have an adjuster on the side so you can adjust the depth to be deep enough to get blood but not too deep to be painful.

There are some videos on YouTube which can show you how this is doone.
 
I did make the error of popping my finger on top of the strip last night after dinner - "I did it a couple of hours ago, no need to check the instructions again is there?" like an idiot - but it's definitely something to work on. I'll definitely take your advice on cuddling a warm cup! If nothing else, the warmth will be welcome in the coming months. I daresay the videos will be helpful, too.
I expect it's one of those things newbies stumble over for a while.
Thank you @geordie and @helli for the welcome and advice.
 
Welcome to the forum @AshMc

It may also be partly the meter itself? Some strips seem to be ‘slurpier’ than others (technical term), and there may be a bit of a knack to knowing quite where the entry point is. Most are at the end of the strip, but some are more around to one side or other… or take the blood more enthusiastically with the offered droplet being slightly above or slightly below. Once you’ve found the spot, it becomes second nature.

Some meters alert you if not enough blood has been applied and allow you to have another go.

I find it helpful to ‘milk’ the finger very gently from the base, to get a decent droplet that stands proud of the skin (a little like one of those glass-headed dressmaking pins my mother used to use). These form more easily if your hands are properly dried after washing them.

The strips themselves usually only need to take a tiny amount of blood, so there’s no need to aim for Tony Hancock’s ‘armful’ when lancing. :D

If the lancing device itself is a little bit like a cracker toy, you may find the Accu-chek Fastclix to be a significant improvement.
 
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The device is quite solid so the likelihood is user error, which makes sense as I've only used it three times.

I'll take your advice on board, though! If these issues are still there after a couple of weeks I might need to change, there's no use being wedded to a device if it's not really working for you.
 
Sounds about right! Technology can be our friend, as long as it's working okay or we're not making daft mistakes.

I suppose it's a bit trial and error in the early stages, glucose monitoring included.
 
like Everydayupsandowns said I was ready to swear ever time until i got the fast clix as it really is just like one click and a squeeze at times n its done. The strips can also be wrong for some if you dont get the blood to drop but its a tiny amount.
i hope you find it easier soon .
you can buy these in Boots or other places to just you an idea what we are talking about .
 
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My tip is not to prick the finger pads which you use all the time. Instead prick at the side of them where skin is softer so less pressure and depth needed so it doesn't hurt as much.
 
As others have said and some extra tips I follow...
Wash hands in soap and warm water before testing, dry on clean towels, not the day to day kitchen one that hangs in the cupboard door handle contaminated with possible sugar or carbie residues! Ditto if you have used oven gloves! Hold the lance firmly against the side of chosen finger towards the end and don't flinch as you press, use the fine lances, they come in different grades. Press or 'milk' to get a small drop. Point the end of the strip at a sharp angle down on the blood drop gently touching the finger, or not at all if possible. Sometimes the blood drop will be flat and not form a ball shape, don't be tempted to waste a strip on it, prick again! Good luck!
 
Thanks for all of your advice, the two times I've tested so far have been very smooth - you've saved me a lot of annoyance!

The numbers need lowering, of course, but that's a different matter.
 
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