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I have just started having to monitor my glucose levels. I'm really struggling and can't do it! I've watched videos but just can't seem to get a reading. It takes a long time for the blood to move up the strip and by this point the monitor has gone off. I've done it around 16 times and only had 2 successful recordings. Any tips please?
Hello @Disneyfan20
It can be very difficult at first. What type of monitor are you using?
Is the finger pricking working OK, and are you getting a reasonably big blob of blood to dip the strip into? If not then try increasing the depth of the finger pricker, and dip the strip in vertically.
If you haven't already looked at this UTUBE video, it may be of some help
I had terrible problems at first but this is what eventually worked for me. I get everything ready in advance, but only insert the test strip in the reader AFTER I've pricked my finger and got a decent blob. Less chance of timing out. Then I put the strip to the side of the blob, with the reader lower, so the blob uses gravity and runs downhill.
I put the strip I am going to use on the top of the meter, stab and get enough blood on my finger, and only then insert the strip and wait for the meter to be ready to test. That seems to work every time.
I had terrible problems at first but this is what eventually worked for me. I get everything ready in advance, but only insert the test strip in the reader AFTER I've pricked my finger and got a decent blob. Less chance of timing out. Then I put the strip to the side of the blob, with the reader lower, so the blob uses gravity and runs downhill.
on the highest setting? I have just started self testing..This is what I do ......
1) get everything reading beforehand. 2) wash hand with sops and warm water. Dry & shake, flex fingers. fist and un-clench couple of times. 3) prick SIDE of finger at the top (I use 1.5 setting) (avoid index finger, in case its a bit sore after). 4) wipe 1st blob away with tissue & gently encourage another drop. 5) push test strip well into machine wait for bleed and 'drop' image to appear...or whatever your machine does. 6) pick up machine and take the whole thing at 45 deg angle to the blob of blood. It will get sucked up automatically. Place machine back on table and wipe finger whilst you await results.
That was tested (using the second drop rather than the first) and they found it made no difference. So I wouldn't suggest you stop doing it (if what you're doing is working), but you could if you wanted.
(I do much the same except I put the strip in first then prick my finger, and move my finger to the machine rather than moving the machine.)
@Bruce (from the link you posted on my ' can hand cream effect results ' thread (which was interesting to read btw, thanks for posting it) and as you see, a definitive answers is not always the case. And as I said, I personally use 2nd drop, especially as I had a previous concern of one of my unexpected readings and poss interaction with hand cream on finger tips. ....Quote from report, link below :.."The first drop of blood can be used for self-monitored glucose testing, but only after washing hands. If washing hands is not possible and they are not visibly soiled or exposed to a sugar-containing product, it is acceptable to use the second drop of blood after wiping away the first drop. It does not matter which finger is used for glucose measurements. External pressure may lead to unreliable readings".End quote. Its a complex topic!
Sure, no reason to change something if it's working OK. But if someone's finding getting a second drop annoying (and is washing their hands immediately beforehand, as I'm sure most people do) it's good to know that there's no need to keep doing that. (I first looked up the research when someone mentioned using the second drop of blood: I'd never (in 30 odd years of being diabetic) heard of the idea.)
Are you sliding the end/edge of the test strip into your blood blob or are you plonking the blood on top of the strip?
The strip is like a sandwich of materials and the blood gets sucked into the channel towards the monitor by capillary action so you need to touch the very end/edge of the strip gently against the blood droplet and not against your actual finger. Think of a humming bird sucking up the nectar from a flower. The strip end is the end of the humming bird's long beak and as long as there is enough new blood and the blood is liquid enough it will travel quickly up the tiny gap.
I had a few problems first until I worked this out.
Warm hands is my main problem if my hands are cold I can't get any blood out. But nice warm hands and the blood just whooshes out.
Also I found having a drink of water a little while beforehand helps.
Thanks everyone for your help. I think the problem is that I'm not getting a good blob of blood. It seems to be more of a scratch lots of blood is coming out but it's very runny. I've got the finger pricker on the highest setting too.
@Disneyfan20 you have my full sympathy as I still struggle (2 months later) getting enough blood for reading - at highest level on device and also different sized needles, just lots of bruised fingers and wasted test strips and that's with knowing what I'm doing.
I posted similar thread when I started out and much of the advice on it is probably the same links etc. shared here - here is a link for you.
The other trick I learnt from watching a T1 friend test is leave the kit all strapped in the bag. (Meter etc.)
After I have washed hands in hot water/ dried thoroughly and sometimes reheated on a radiator or in an armpit... I get the test strip put it in but not fully, stab myself, wait for blood (dance on my head, milk the finger, squeeze etc.) then push the strip in and do the bloods. 9/10 it works, sometimes error as not enough blood.
I have read that thing about taking 2nd drop which has to do with the bloods especially if you have milked the finger - but as I don't bleed well I am lucky to get 1 drop so have not done that either.
I had the problem with thin blood when trying to test my daughter in law - she eats a diet very high in carbs low in fat and protein and her blood is like water and doesn't blob but runs away along the grooves of her fingerprints. The meter timed out before the blood could be tested using my last strip, which was frustrating, but I think I can make a good guess at why it happened.
@Disneyfan20 you have my full sympathy as I still struggle (2 months later) getting enough blood for reading - at highest level on device and also different sized needles, just lots of bruised fingers and wasted test strips and that's with knowing what I'm doing.
I posted similar thread when I started out and much of the advice on it is probably the same links etc. shared here - here is a link for you.
The other trick I learnt from watching a T1 friend test is leave the kit all strapped in the bag. (Meter etc.)
After I have washed hands in hot water/ dried thoroughly and sometimes reheated on a radiator or in an armpit... I get the test strip put it in but not fully, stab myself, wait for blood (dance on my head, milk the finger, squeeze etc.) then push the strip in and do the bloods. 9/10 it works, sometimes error as not enough blood.
I have read that thing about taking 2nd drop which has to do with the bloods especially if you have milked the finger - but as I don't bleed well I am lucky to get 1 drop so have not done that either.
