Like getting blood out of a stone

[Davein]

I have been having trouble with finger pricking for BG testing. I have to use the lancet several times before I can squeeze enough blood out! When I have been in hospital the nurses also had a problem getting blood when finger pricking. I think the problem is I am thick skinned when it comes to hands (maybe elsewhere as well🙂) through decades of hard manual work. I've tried warming up hands, rubbing them together and shaking them without much success. Can anyone suggest any solutions to resolve this -a different device or area of skin to try. I know some people prick in ear lobes but obviously that's difficult single handed. Is there anything obvious I haven't considered? I am also slightly disadvantages as I'm down to nine digits due to an accident with a powersaw Ouch......

 

[grovesy]

Have you tried adjusting the depth of device?

 

[Grannylorraine]

I was also going to say can you adjust your device.

 

[Mark T]

10 star jumps before you take your reading that will get the blood flowing!

My father has the same issue, decades of being a milkman! Generally you just have to set the device deeper as there is not often a relatively softer bit of skin on your fingers. The pads are sometimes better - but more painful. Little finger(s)? That one's generally had less use.

 

[Amigo]

A friend of ours was diagnosed last year and doesn’t test so I offered to do a random test for him as he was interested. No matter what we did at whatever setting, his fingertips were like rhino hind! Never did manage it!

 

[Redkite]

Are you using the sides of your fingers, not the pads where your fingerprint is? Increase the depth setting and press firmly against the side of your finger before clicking.

 

[Davein]

Are you using the sides of your fingers, not the pads where your fingerprint is? Increase the depth setting and press firmly against the side of your finger before clicking.

Yes tried that not enough blood comes out to satisfy the test strip. I have even tried filing the top of the applicator to get the needle to go in further. I know if you try certain other areas then you could get a false reading, Thanks for replying

 

[mikeyB]

What makes you think a finger is an accurate reading? Most finger pricking devices come with an adaptor that allows a prick anywhere within reach. No testing method is perfect apart from a venous blood sample.

 

[Amigo]

What makes you think a finger is an accurate reading? Most finger pricking devices come with an adaptor that allows a prick anywhere within reach. No testing method is perfect apart from a venous blood sample.

As a venous blood sample is a bit messy for DIY, where’s the next best place to stick it Mike? 😛

 

[Davein]

What makes you think a finger is an accurate reading? Most finger pricking devices come with an adaptor that allows a prick anywhere within reach. No testing method is perfect apart from a venous blood sample.

I am guilty of googling it Mike and from what I've read if you for example jab your upper leg it will read different from if you compared it to a finger prick....yes, yes I know a lot of stuff on the internet is twaddle but I just want do a simple blood test. At the moment I have to prick a very small area of finger several times to get enough for even the test strip.

 

[Northerner]

One thing I learned, and it does seem to work for me, is to prick the finger then wait a second or two. The finger's reaction is to try and close the wound quickly, but by waiting a couple of seconds before squeezing it relaxes again and the blood comes more readily 🙂

 

[Flower]

Alternate Site testing AST covers where you can take a blood sample from suitable for testing. Check what your meter manufacturer suggests on their site

 

[mikeyB]

Aye, but why do you think the finger prick device came with an alternate clear cap to use alternative sites? It’s not that different, probably no more than you would between different meters. With that cap you can go for the fleshy part of the hand, the forearm and upper arm, none of which are that far from your hand. It’s good enough for routine work. Try, as I have done, getting a fingerprick from a 7 month old. In that case, a heel is your best bet.

 

[Northerner]

What sort of meter are you using Dave, are the strips prescribed? Some meters require far less blood to others. The Accuchek ones have a habit of erroring if you can't get enough blood on the strip quickly enough, so they're no use in this situation. The Freestyle Optium requires several buckets of blood but will give you another try. I've found the Contour Next usb requires the smallest drop, and will also give you a chance to try again without wasting a strip 🙂

 

[Davein]

One thing I learned, and it does seem to work for me, is to prick the finger then wait a second or two. The finger's reaction is to try and close the wound quickly, but by waiting a couple of seconds before squeezing it relaxes again and the blood comes more readily 🙂

I'll try that to see if it works....I've always put the test strip in the meter first and try to extract the bloods before the meter switches off but I will definitely try your way... thanks Northerner.

 

[Davein]

What sort of meter are you using Dave, are the strips prescribed? Some meters require far less blood to others. The Accuchek ones have a habit of erroring if you can't get enough blood on the strip quickly enough, so they're no use in this situation. The Freestyle Optium requires several buckets of blood but will give you another try. I've found the Contour Next usb requires the smallest drop, and will also give you a chance to try again without wasting a strip 🙂

Now on insulin so supplied with GlucoMen Areo by surgery. Had Accuchek when self financing. the areo does not need huge amount of blood but I have had the error(no 2nd chance) messages and wasted a few strips which I hate doing because on limited supply. I will ask GP if I can change to Contour Next. Thanks Northerner, much appreciated as this is becoming a bit of a pain having to make three or four puncture holes in a small area each time I test and I'm currently testing 8 times a day to get my diet low carb.

 

[trophywench]

Have you ever thought of actually trying to soften the skin Dave? Like every morning and evening wash hands in nice hot water and get up a good lather, then actually scrub the ends of your fingers with a stiffish nailbrush?

If you have daily contact with bricks and freshly mixed mortar though, probably not a good idea!

Oh - and it's probably time to pack in using your hands as hammers, sandpaper etc

 

[Davein]

Have you ever thought of actually trying to soften the skin Dave? Like every morning and evening wash hands in nice hot water and get up a good lather, then actually scrub the ends of your fingers with a stiffish nailbrush?

If you have daily contact with bricks and freshly mixed mortar though, probably not a good idea!

Oh - and it's probably time to pack in using your hands as hammers, sandpaper etc

Ah..you know me so well Jenny .Can't pack it in, got one last project to do. Just got planning permission to build new bungalow in garden of family house for my son to live in (he's struggling to get on housing ladder so bank of mum and dad comes into play but giving him the land instead of money) and then that's it.... I want to properly retire in one year and a week from today when I'm 65, I'll try your suggestion about the scrubbing brush,

 

[mikeyB]

You’ll be fine when you retire, Davein. When I switched to the Libre it only took a month or so before my fingers were as soft as a baby’s.

 

[trophywench]

My bro -in-law was a brickie. the old fashioned sort who did an apprenticeship and attended college to get his C&Gs and the only person I knew in the 1960s who used a slide rule proficiently despite his Secondary Modern schooling - and we were both 'Grammar' girls!

Anyway - before he went back to bricklaying etc (always built their own houses and extensions for mates etc all his life even though he wasn't doing it daily any more) - he'd be raiding Gill's supply of handcream before and during to get more oil back into his hand skin - you might try that too!