[mids1999]

I have been testing my blood sugar 6 times a day.

I am using the ultrasmart meter and ultrasoft lancing set.

I have got the setting on the lancer pretty dialed in to where I get just about the required amount of blood for the test (maybe a little more).

I am testing on my fingers since I havent figured the alternate site testing thing out yet. I use one finger per test per day.

My question is how long is an average amount of time till the test starts not hurting my fingers as much aka desensitizing?

[DesertDiabetic]

I have only been doing the 18 months and it doesn't change. Use a sharp point is the best way to avoid pain. Move the draw place around as much as you can. I find my left hand works best for me, but when it becomes more difficult to draw a sample I will have to use my right hand more.

[mids1999]

Ok thanks for the quick responce.

I sure hope it eventually does get better as I think my fingers are overly sensitive.
My insulin injections are much less painful then the sugar tests. I thought it would be the other way around.

[Harold]

Hope your using the sides between the pad and nail, and not directly on the pad. Some people use the fleshy area below the thumb, or between the nail and first joint.

For alternate site like the forearm use the clear cap. Rub the area your going to use before employing the lanclet. When you use the lancelet do not remove it from the surface right away. Instead move it up and down, without leaving the surface and you should be able to see a drop form on the skin. There use to be a video on the Lifescan website. It should still be there if you still have a problem.

http://www.lifescan.com/

[Cyborg]

Originally Posted by mids1999

I have been testing my blood sugar 6 times a day.

I am using the ultrasmart meter and ultrasoft lancing set.

I have got the setting on the lancer pretty dialed in to where I get just about the required amount of blood for the test (maybe a little more).

I am testing on my fingers since I havent figured the alternate site testing thing out yet. I use one finger per test per day.

My question is how long is an average amount of time till the test starts not hurting my fingers as much aka desensitizing?

I agree with Harold about using the the spot on the side of the thumb between the pad and the nail. Over time, possibly several months, if you stick with the same area it will develop a caluss or pad which will become less sensitive. The finger pricking in the location while building up the pad can sting and even after you've built up a pad, it's no assurance to pain free finger sticks.

[Diana]

I find that if my hands are warm pricking hurts less. Also, just in case (though I dont think they even reccomend this anymore!) you arent swabbing your finger with alcohol first are you? Because that is one sure fire way to get a stinging finger, lol!

I have developed a preference for my little finger and ring finger. You may find you have a fave finger after a while which seems less painful. I dont know that I have developed a callous at all, but maybe I have just gotten used to it on this finger.

Hope you have luck with finding a way that is more comfy for you.

[Cyborg]

Originally Posted by Diana

Also, just in case (though I dont think they even reccomend this anymore!) you arent swabbing your finger with alcohol first are you? Because that is one sure fire way to get a stinging finger, lol!

I always use an alcohol wipe. I carry them in my test kit. The last thing I want is a bad reading or worse, a flesh eating bacteria.

I clean my target then wave my finger or thumb in the air to dry it and to force the blood down to it, then I prick. No pain from the alcohol as the alcohol has dried...

[Funnygrl]

You can try other lancing devices too. I found the softclix and multiclix to be much less painful then others. Not to be the grim reaper, but after years, I still found other lancing devices somewhat painful to use.

[Diana]

Originally Posted by Cyborg

I clean my target then wave my finger or thumb in the air to dry it and to force the blood down to it, then I prick. No pain from the alcohol as the alcohol has dried...

Fair enough, I was just thinking about when I was diagnosed and in the hospital they would always swab then prick, without waiting for it to dry.. eek! I dont know that anyone has ever got a flesh eating bacteria from finger pricking as yet, but you can never be too safe hey? lol.

I think what they generally reccomend now is just having clean hands, more for the sake of a reliable reading than hygiene? I guess alcohol swabs are one way to achieve that when you're out and about.

[poodlebone]

Last year I bought two fo these lancet devices:
http://www.diabeticexpress.com/conte...It emID=04-70

The tip has a circle of little raised dots. When you press it against your finger, the dots desensitize the area. It actually does work. However, I lost one of them and broke the other. I'll order a couple more eventually. It not only allows you to change the epth, but the force as well. It's small and should fit in most/all meter cases.

I use an UltraSmart and hate their lancet device so right now I have one from BD crammed into the case. It sticks out a little so I can't completely zipper the case, but it's always in my backpack anyway.

[Cyborg]

Originally Posted by Funnygrl

I found the softclix

That's the one I like! I actually use a different brand meter.

[camjen1]

The best decision I ever made was to switch to my arm. I feel nothing and can do it 30 times a day if needed. Of course you have to have a different attachment when doing your arm.

I have also found that the pain gets less when I don't change my lancet. That's just me though! I haven't changed my lancet in months and I don't intend to change it anytime soon. I think the new fresh lancets hurt so much worse then the dull needle.

[TvBabe]

Originally Posted by Funnygrl

You can try other lancing devices too. I found the softclix and multiclix to be much less painful then others. Not to be the grim reaper, but after years, I still found other lancing devices somewhat painful to use.

I just switched to these lancets devices as well and WHAT a DIFFERENCE! I am not a big fan of the Accu-chek meters but boy they sure make a great lancer

[BriOnH]

Originally Posted by Funnygrl

You can try other lancing devices too. I found the softclix and multiclix to be much less painful then others. Not to be the grim reaper, but after years, I still found other lancing devices somewhat painful to use.

:dito:

Been using the softclix for about 8 months now. To this day I still get clicks that I can't believe drew blood. It's not painless but it is by far the less painful out of the many lancet devices I have tried. All my other lancet devices though used the same type of needle, softclix is different.

Hope this helps with the pain .

[scara]

oh yeah the multi-clix rules.... so much better than the one that came with the one-touch ultra!