Problems getting a blood sample

[Kit tyndall]

Hi everyone. Ive been managing my T2 diabetes for the past five years by diet and exercise but have now somewhat reluctantly agreed to start on Metformin as my HBa1c had reached 57. Fortunately my Dr and DN are really supportive and have prescribed both a meter Accu-Chek Performa and test strips. Fine I thought I'm set up and can move ahead. Problem is that I'm having a hell of a job producing enough blood to do a test using several test strips and several attempts each time. I'm testing first thing before breakfast and two hours after my evening meal, which seemed like a good way to start. Ive tried different fingers and different depths with the finger pricker. Grateful for any guidance or suggestions.

 

[Kaylz]

I'm not too sure what you are hoping to achieve with such little testing?

I'm not being cheeky but to start most test before eating and then again 2 hours later to see what effect the food they have consumed has on their BG in turn this helps show where adjustments need made to get BG down

Which finger pricker are you using? Do you wash your hands in warm water before testing? Rub the particular finger with the towel while drying? Prick and then hold your hand towards the ground for a few seconds to encourage the blood to flow to the top, milk it rather than squeeze
xx

 

[Leadinglights]

I don't know how much blood your strips need but usually it is the smallest drop that is needed. Make sure your hands are warm, I find the best place is just to the side of the pad of a middle finger, massage your finger gently before pricking and the blood should come out easily. Hold you hand below your heart.
There are some UTube videos on technique I believe.

 

[Junglegirl]

Hi Kittyndall, I think we have all had problems with getting that drop of blood over the years. I personally now need the depth of the puncture to be set at its deepest level.
The other thing I found helpful was running my fingers under a warm tap, or dipping them in warm water just prior to doing the test, another friend rubs her finger tips to stimulate the blood flow. Some areas of your fingers produce better results than others, off to the side slightly or nearer the tip depending what you are comfortable with, again that bit is a personal choice.
Good luck

 

[Gwynn]

I found that drinking a glass of water 30 mins before the test helped a lot. Does that wreck a fasting test? Mind you only tried that on a few occasions.

 

[grovesy]

I have not used that monitor but over the years I have used about 6 differnt makes of meter and some seem to be more fussy about how they take up the blood into the strips.

 

[Ljc]

Most of us encounter problems initially.
Make sure your fingers are warm, this helps the blood flow a bit easier.
Rinse hands in warm warm water and ensure they are dry.
Set up your meter
Prick the side of a finger but not near the nail ,wait a few seconds then do a rolling squeeze with the finger and thumb of your other hand, when your eventually successful, Check the meter has not switched itself off, as it prob will have, if so remove strip and put it back in , wait till it tells you it’s ready then apply blood to the strip
I hope this helps.

 

[Kit tyndall]

Thanks everyone for the really helpful tips I will give them a try. Once I've got it cracked I can perhaps try to move on to before and after eating.

 

[Ljc]

Oops I thought I had posted this link
Painless pricks by Alan S

 

[Kit tyndall]

Ljc
Thanks for the article, appreciate your help.
Kit

 

[Leadinglights]

I am beginning to doubt whether I am doing my finger prick correctly as I don't seem to have any problem getting the pinhead size of drop my Codefree meter uses, am I supposed to discard the first drop and then apply the next drop to the strip. Do other monitors require lots more than that?
Having said that I used to be able to get 1ml from a finger prick when I needed to give blood for experiments at work. I was known as the vampire.

 

[Kaylz]

@Leadinglights no need to wipe the first drop away if your hands are clean, not lots more but yes different strips require differing amounts of sample, there can also be no fault of the user and just duff strips that the blood doesn't flow up (Accu-Chek Aviva strips have had a few batches like that) xx

 

[Ljc]

Meters make a sound of some kind and or the display changes when their is enough blood on the strip, try to persuade more blood to come out if you can as I think your meter may need more blood . Don’t worry You can’t can’t overfill the strip .

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Some strips are slurpier than others too @Leadinglights

I’m glad my Contour XT lets me have a second go. It only needs a small sample, but on the rare occasions I’ve not quite produced a big enough drop, it tells me, and waits patiently for me to bodge another finger. My old Roche meters never did that, they just said ‘Nope!’ and needed a new strip.