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Why can't I get blood from my fingers?

D

debs248

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Type 2
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I was newly diagnosed this week with A1c of 113, tested at the gp with BG 20.1, given medication and a monitor and told to test glucose 3-4 times daily.

Unfortunately I appear to have next to no blood in my fingers, at least none that is willing to come out. I can sometimes get a tiny droplet but not enough for the test. I've tried both hands, various fingers, two brands of lancing device and half a dozen tips found on the internet and am incredibly frustrated.

Until I can test I can't drive because I'm on gliclazide and can't measure for hypos (I'm not feeling well enough to drive this week but that's not the point).

Can anyone help me get a decent blood drop? I've asked the surgery for an appointment with a diabetic nurse but they move very slowly and in any case that can't happen until at least Monday.


Thanks
 
debs248 said:
ntil I can test I can't drive because I'm on gliclazide and can't measure for hypos (I'm not feeling well enough to drive this week but that's not the point).
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Don’t know where you’ve made that up from, you’re fine to drive without testing bg first. You don’t even have to inform the DVLA about gliclazide only about insulin. You’re hardly going to be hypo with bg in the 20s.
 
Lucyr said:
Don’t know where you’ve made that up from, you’re fine to drive without testing bg first. You don’t even have to inform the DVLA about gliclazide only about insulin. You’re hardly going to be hypo with bg in the 20s.
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Not true. Gliclazide and other sulphonylureas are reportable medications (can cause hypos). It's on the DVLA form and on the associated notes.

See this forum info at :https://www.diabetes.org.uk/living-with-diabetes/life-with-diabetes/driving/driving-licence#hypomeds.

However, if one has not had a hypo then it's not going to matter as long as the questions are answered correctly c.f. do you know the symptoms of a hypo ? - answer YES.
 
mashedupmatt said:
Hot cup of tea - hands around the cup - warms the fingers up nicely for me to get a decent drop
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Running fingers under the hot tap is just as good. I was told to use only the small and next-to-it fingers for testing.
 
victorhamesse said:
I was told to use only the small and next-to-it fingers for testing.
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Do you know why?
I never received such advice and use all my fingers and sometimes thumbs.
After 20 years and sometimes pricking 10+ times a day, I have no issues with my fingers.
So I am always intrigued when people are told to avoid certain fingers.

I do sometimes struggle to get blood out.
I find the things that help are making sure my hands are warm and dry so holding a hot cup of tea helps; making sure my lancet device is set to the right depth; ensuring I am hydrated; and limiting “Reynauds incidents” (where blood vessels in the extremities, like fingers and toes, narrow excessively in response to cold or stress, leading to reduced blood flow) which is mostly keeping my hands warm.
 
There can be a couple of things that can stop you being able to take blood from your fingers, one is poor circulation. Warming your hands up can help, but be careful with hot water. The other is dehydration, I know if I’m dehydrated at any point it’s difficult to get blood out. I was told you can use any finger apart from the thumb. When I was in hospital they did use all my fingers on both hands due to me having hourly checks.
 
Hi welcome to the forum, firstly make sure your well hydrated @debs248
also as already suggested warm or wash your hands

the other thing I was going to ask you is have you got your finger pricking device set at the best setting for your skin and be sure aware some of the ones that come with the meters themselves are not the best finger bodging devices
 
victorhamesse said:
Not true. Gliclazide and other sulphonylureas are reportable medications (can cause hypos). It's on the DVLA form and on the associated notes.
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No they’re not - check the DVLA site
 

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Lucyr said:
Also this is what you’ve linked to. It literally says you don’t need to inform the dvla.
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I did a DVLA form last year to renew the licence and what I described was on the form. Has it changed in 12 months ? The latest info leaflet (on-line) has a date of 12/23. I also looked at the .gov site for this and it does list sulphonylureas as being reportable but then asked me to go though a medical questionnaire. I stopped but this just seems to be an on-line version of the paper form I used. My feeling is that they will request the info but let it pass as long as the applicant is competent in the knowledge of hypos (and has not actually had one).
 
helli said:
Do you know why?
I never received such advice and use all my fingers and sometimes thumbs.
After 20 years and sometimes pricking 10+ times a day, I have no issues with my fingers.
So I am always intrigued when people are told to avoid certain fingers.

I do sometimes struggle to get blood out.
I find the things that help are making sure my hands are warm and dry so holding a hot cup of tea helps; making sure my lancet device is set to the right depth; ensuring I am hydrated; and limiting “Reynauds incidents” (where blood vessels in the extremities, like fingers and toes, narrow excessively in response to cold or stress, leading to reduced blood flow) which is mostly keeping my hands warm.
Click to expand...

Seems to be to do with not damaging fingers that are more needed for everyday use. I guess these two are considered the most expendable.
 
victorhamesse said:
I did a DVLA form last year to renew the licence and what I described was on the form
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You only fill that form (diab1) in to renew licence if on insulin or gliclazide and have had a severe hypo needing assistance or have eye complications etc. Everyone else just on gliclazide doesn’t report it to DVLA, as per the Diabetes UK information you linked yourself.
 
victorhamesse said:
Seems to be to do with not damaging fingers that are more needed for everyday use. I guess these two are considered the most expendable.
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But it does not damage fingers.
As I wrote, my fingers are fine after more than 20 years of finger pricking
And using all fingers has allowed more "finger rotation" to reduce the impact on each finger.
 
Also the dehydration issue - this week has been stupidly hectic so haven't managed to drink as much as usual. Hoping for some decent rest over the weekend and will drink plenty before having another go.

I've seen/ read/ heard lots of advice on finger selection and the conclusion I've come to is:

Thumb - avoid as skin too thick
Little finger - avoid as skin too thin
Index - avoid as most used finger

but any finger could be used if you had to test very often.
 
I almost always use my thumb!
 
Robin said:
Testing for driving and Gliclazide is a very grey area. Both the information leaflet for drivers,here,
and the guidelines for medical professionals, here, page 88.
say the same thing, not very helpfully .
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You don’t sign anything to say you will test, no guidance says you must test, and you don’t need to inform the DVLA. There can not be any consequences of driving without testing first when driving a car on gliclazide.

Of course you should stop driving if you feel unwell, just like anyone on the road should even if they don’t have a medical condition.
 
There's an excellent tutorial here on the site @debs248 which includes a video and is worth a read:-

Checking your blood sugar levels

Knowing your blood sugar levels helps you manage your diabetes and reduces your risk of having serious complications – now and in the future. On this page:
www.diabetes.org.uk www.diabetes.org.uk
 
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