Probably a daft question.............

[Sinco]

Have type 2 and severe neuropathy mostly in legs but also in hands and fingers. When testing blood can finger pricker be used to draw blood from elsewhere such as arm or anywhere else or does blood have to be taken from fingers?

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hi Sinco

Several meters allow AST (alternative site testing) and have instructions/adaptors for lancing devices to suit.

Never tried it myself. I gather there are slight differences in the expected readings and advice is not to use AST if hypo or if levels are thought to be changing rapidly.

 

[Northerner]

Not a daft question at all! I believe that the forearm can also be used although it is not as accurate as fingers so shouldn't be used if you suspect you may be hypo (low, below 4.0). This page has a video explaining alternative site testing:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/blood-glucose/alternate-site-testing.html

 

[Adrienne]

Hi

The capillary blood is the best ie fingers and toes etc but arms can be used but you will not get as true a reading if you have eaten within the previous 2 hours.

Some test kits come with a different top you can put on the lancet thingy to use arms, it is a type of vaccuum way of doing it. We have never done it, well we tried once and it hurt and left round marks up Jessica's arms

Have you tried your ear lobes. They are great for it.

 

[cherrypie]

Hi,
Whilst AST may give some relief for sore fingers, you have to remember that it is 20-30 minutes behind a finger prick test. It is called "lagging" AST.
http://www.bd.com/us/diabetes/blood-glucose-monitoring/how-to-test/alternate-site/