Lancing finger locations

[doctordun]

Do you have to lance in the last joint of the finger(where the nail is)? Can I lance on the second joint and still expect the same results? If so, it gives me a lot more room and a little farther away from the sensitive tip.

[princesslinda]

If that site works well for you, go for it! I image the results would be pretty much the same as the first joint would be.

I've never stuck myself there...does it hurt less?

[fgummett]

Good question!
As there are monitors that work on the forearm I don't see why testing a little farther down your finger should make a noticeable difference. Have you tried it on yourself to see how the results compare? So far as I understand it, home monitors are calibrated for capillary blood distal to the heart/lungs.
BTW you do know you can use the side of your fingers and don't need to stick the sensitive pads?

[Evermont]

A 'joint' is where two or more bones meet, like a knuckle. what you mean is finger tip, or another segment.

Some meters support "alternate site testing" which gives you other options. The meters instructions usually diagram the locations that are supposed to work. Mine says forearm and thighs work. You should test it out, take two readings at the same time, one from a finger tip and one from another site. Don't expect them to match exactly, but if you try this a few times you'll learn what the meter thinks.

Many of us use the side of the finger tip - that works pretty well.

[doctordun]

I just tried it on the second segment and the tip, both on the sides. The tip was 128 and the second joint segment was 134. Close enough for me and it seemed to be less of a sting. I'm going to try it some more and if the reading continue to be close, why not.
I really don't see how the the BG reading could be that much different just a inch apart in the site.

[princesslinda]

"Technically speaking";) our docs would refer to doctordun's preferred testing area as the skin covering the "middle phalanx." I'd probably just call it the "middle part of my finger"...as i'm into simple lingo...much easier to spell.

Me, I prefer the side of my thumb near the top....both are pretty calloused by now. BTW, ever notice that the thumb only has two phalanges where all the other fingers have 3...or am I just odd?:T

[fgummett]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Gray220.png

[HollyB]

I've tried my son's thumb a few times when I'm testing him at night (thinking it would be less used/calloused than the others) but found it tends not to "bead up" in a nice drop but rather bleed in a sort of a smear. Anyone else find that does is my technique need tweaking?

I don't have much meat on the "middle phalanx". Not sure I'd like it there...

[princesslinda]

I guess we all have a finger we prefer...have you tried your son's little finger...that's probably my 2nd favorite. It took about a year before I realized that the sides hurt less and bleed more than the tips for me.

I'd love the forearm testing if I didn't bruise so easily....I just look all hurt and spotted when I use it.

[Hikeandbike]

I always use the side of my finger tips. There are less nerve endings on the side therefore less pain unless your one of the masochist that use a spork.:T
Rich

[HollyB]

Aaron's a pianist and guitar player. The tips are definitely off-limits!

He uses all his other fingers. I was just trying to find a less calloused spot. If he was little, I'd go for the toes!

(But ew. Teenage boy toes...)

[Kim_in_TN]

I always cringe when my doc or nurse goes for the side of my finger. I always have felt like a thinner area close to bone would seem to hurt more than a well-padded area like the finger pad. Hmmm, maybe I'll get "brave" and try the sides of my fingers now.

[R2112]

My little finger on the top-side seems to give out more. I haven't tried the thumb yet. I always figured I'd sample from the fingers with the less daily use.

[fgummett]

+1 for the little finger on the side

[Gordonm]

I will use all 8 of my fingers on both sides of the last digit. I never use the pad part. I use my finger to much and it starts to hurt using the pads.
I also will use my toes on the sides sometimes.

[matingara]

I guess we all have a finger we prefer...have you tried your son's little finger...that's probably my 2nd favorite. It took about a year before I realized that the sides hurt less and bleed more than the tips for me.

i am a big fan of the side of the tip of the pinkie finger!!! it bleeds best with the minimum amount of prick.

it is my favorite by far.

if i don't watch myself i end up going to the pinkie by default.

i have been "pricking" for 9 months now and i have never had a hint of a callous...

:)

-- Joel.

[doctordun]

I've been experimenting with the sides of the middle section of my fingers instead of always using the sides of the tips.

It is much less painful, gets blood easily and I can't think of why it would make a difference in the bg readings. Am I wrong?

[Hammer]

Going by the excellent diagram that fgummett posted, I use the 3rd and 4th fingers on both hands. I use the last section of the finger and I only use the sides. I have no callouses on any finger yet. I also find that the finger has healed in about two minutes. I guess I'm a fast healer.

I do wonder why you need to test using your fingers or forearm. Doesn't the blood in your body have the same amount of glucose in it no matter where it is? If not, then how does the cell know that it should go to your finger if it's carrying a certain amount of glucose?

In other words, if the blood in your abdominal area has a different level of glucose in it, so that taking a reading there would be inaccurate, what caused these blood cells to go to your abdominal area and not your finger?

[Chappo]

Generally, I use my left hand:
Pinkie preference
Ring Finger
Middle Finger

If it's been a few days of heavy testing, i'll sometimes use my index to give the others a break.

[doctordun]

I do wonder why you need to test using your fingers or forearm. Doesn't the blood in your body have the same amount of glucose in it no matter where it is? If not, then how does the cell know that it should go to your finger if it's carrying a certain amount of glucose?


From what I've learned, your finger tip registers glucose changes the fastest. If you are on insulin and need to know very quickly what your bc is, the finger is the best choice.
Other parts of the body register bc changes over a longer period of time.
I'm sure someone with more knowledge will chime in.

My original question was whether there was much difference in the particular segment of your finger you stick or is the tip the only choice?

[slipperyelm]

You say tomato; I say tomahto.
You say phalanx; I say phalange.

Doctordun, I doubt that anyone has ever studied the question. Personally I would be quite comfortable accepting the reading from any part of my fingers as equivalent to the classic side of the distal phalange. :D

[poppa]

Try the palm of the hand JUST below the base of the thumb.

I've tested that spot against back to back readings with finger tips using several different meters (even some that say fingers only) and have found ( for me at least) the numbers are always very close.

At least as close as doing two back to back finger sticks, which are never exactly the same. :cool:

That spot has a lot fewer nerve endings, is painless 8 out of 10 sticks, and rarely gets sore over time, and I test 6 to 10 times a day.

As always, this works for me, but YMMV :o

[Nita]

My first choice is the side of the middle finger by the nail .. you know ... the one that helps you with your driving! ;)

Second choice is the side of the little finger ... both of these on the left hand.

Third choice is the side of the little finger by the nail on the right hand.

When I visit my NP her assistant always has to check my BS and STABS me in the finger pad! It leaves a stinging, throbbing bruise. So I bring my own and insist on doing it myself. They don't mind.

Nita

[terryok123]

side of the finger tip and use different finger each time.. works for me.