Hello Everyone!

[ShannonM]

Hi! My Name is Shannon. I am 32 an have 3 kids. I just found your boards last night and am hoping I can find a lot of useful info on this site and support. I was just diagnosed with Diabetes in Jan so all this is SOO very new to me!!! I am currently having a problem with my bs testing. I can only seem to test my thumb any other finger just doesn’t seem to produce enough blood to test from. The problem is I am developing a callous on my thumb, and its getting sore. Is there any tricks I can use to be able to use the other fingers? I know to use the side to its less painful and that’s great but what can I do to get more blood flow to the site? Any help would be great!! And any additional advice to a newbie would be so wonderful. Thank you for taking the time to read my post.
Hugs
Shannon

[xMenace]

Welcome Shannon.

I only have occaisional bouts of lack of blood. I blame it on Texas. I really don't know if there is anything you can do. Do you exercise regularly?

[Bladerunner]

Hey Shannon, I dont have a problem with getting blood from my fingers, but there are many different types of fingerprick pens, some are adjustable in depth, so on spots where you cant get enough blood ,you can adjust the dept of the needle. (I use the accu-chek softclix , withc is very good) also hold your fingers under warm water from the tap might help. I also have callaus on my fingers from playing guitar so I cant get troug it, but I prick around it, no problem. Cya

[ladytaz]

Hi Shannon :wavey: Welcome to DF! I have that problem sometimes with my fingers too. If your fingers are cold, it's usualy more difficult to get the blood out ;) Try runnning your hands in hot water from the faucet, and see if that helps.

I see your edit about your A1c and meds. PLEASE watch out for unexplained weight gain and fluid retenetion while taking the ActoPlus Met! Same goes for anything with Avandia in it (Avandamet, Avandaryl) They are known side effects of the Actos/Avandia part of the meds, also known to cause heart problems such as Congestive Heart Failure. If you find that to be the case, inform your doctor that you want to be put on something else.

They MAY work well for you tho, so go ahead and give it a shot, just be VERY aware of how your body is reacting to them! If you're gaining weight/retaining fluids don't let it go on for months and months and months!

[pinkytricia]

I only have occaisional bouts of lack of blood. I blame it on Texas.

Hey Hey...Whoa there... uummm... Well yes I too have had the occasional "Bloodless Texan Syndrome"
Shannon your pinky doesn't produce anything...Geez.. mine is like "Old Faithful"...Have you tried your palm or maybe the new arm sites......
Good Luck... It can be frustrating...!
Wash 'em, rub 'em, poke 'em.....:D

[ShannonM]

I will try my pinky I haven’t picked on it yet lol. I will also try running my hands under hotish water before I try. Thanks for so many posts and advice!

Unfortunately no I haven’t been able to exercise in a long while. I have a lot of chronic pain mixed with back and nerve damage. (which now that I have been diagnosed I wonder how much of it could be because my bs ha been to high or somehow connected to it somehow.) I do try to walk as much as I can and I have stretches I do from my pt doctor I saw a couple months ago. I really need to find some sort of aerobic activity for me to do without hurting me.

[KritterMom]

Hi Shannon! Very nice to meet you! This is an awesome place, with awesome people and always someone, or lots of someones, here to help with any questions or problems. Glad you joined.
We must have that same bloodless syndrome going on in Kansas too.........

[2high]

Welcome Shannon.

I only have occaisional bouts of lack of blood. I blame it on Texas. I really don't know if there is anything you can do. Do you exercise regularly?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: Crazy bloodless Texans!!! BILL!!!!!!!!!!!

Shannon, as the others said, try running your hands under warm water, then drying them really well. Also, when you try to squeeze the blood out, it seems to flow better of you sort of milk the blood up from the base of your finger, like you are milking a cow... Kinda a massaging motion.

Welcome to DF, I'm sure you will love it here. The people are awesome... smart, funny, caring, loving, and VERY good looking!! But, thats Diabetics for you!!

Kit.

[Penny]

Shannon, after washing your hands with hot water, try shaking your arm from the arm pit dowm. Use kind of a whipping motion. Then kind of rub the inside of your arm from the elbow in a downward motion. All that gets the blood flowing better to the area you need it. This works for me after I wake in the morning and have been lying on my arms and cutting off my circulation somewhat.

[sweetcheeks]

hmmm if that all fails, have you tried your toes??? lol

i did once and then retested with my finger, only 1 to 2 points difference....

this might work if your at home, but make sure you toes are clean lol

[tanyatype1]

Hi Shannon! I never use my fingers - it hurts too much! I use the palms of my hands and my forearms. :)

[sweetcheeks]

Hi Shannon! I never use my fingers - it hurts too much! I use the palms of my hands and my forearms. :)

i cant use my palms, i cant get any blood lol

[kgm0612]

HI & Welcome to this great forum Shannon.

Try rinsing your hands under warm water before testing. This seems to work well for me. I try rotating fingers but it seems I favor my thumbs.

Karen

[Keezheekoni]

Hi and welcome to the board! Glad to have you here. :D