3 Monitoring questions

[Scrabblechick]

First, which fingers do most of you use when you stick? I've used my thumbs, middle and ring fingers. I type for a living, so my index fingers get a lot of use, and I just can't type as quickly when those fingers are sore.

For a T2, are forearm sticks sufficiently accurate, or do I need to stay with the fingertips?

Third, how often do most T2 people test? I've been doing it 4-5 times a day, mostly to get a feel for what my sugar is doing, since I'm such a novice at this. I'd love to get down to 2x a day. Maybe that's a realistic goal.

[HollyB]

Hi,

just on the poking question -- do you use the sides of your fingertips rather than the very ends? The actual tips will get sore, but the area to each side of your fingernail shouldn't (not much anyway). My son tests 5-10 times a day, on all fingers, and plays piano and guitar. He never had lingering soreness, not even in the early days after diagnosis. Also, make sure you have your lancer dialed down to the lowest setting that actually draws blood, and that you are using a fine-gauge lancet. No sense in hurting yourself more than you need to!

My understanding of forearm testing is it's fine for routine checks, but if you are feeling low you should use a fingertip as it reflects BG changes faster.

[mho357]

I tend to concentrate on my index and middle fingers - I don't know why. I tested 6-8 times/day when I first started out because I felt I needed the feedback. Now that I have a good idea of which foods do what, I tend to test 2 or 3 times.

I spend most of my time at a keyboard.

Mark

[morrisma]

When I used fingers, I used my little one mostly because I had guitar string calluses on the others. Never used my thumb. Can't remember why. I am strictly a forearm user now.

As to frequency, test as often as your insurance company will allow and makes sense. If you are on insulin, 5x seems about right - waking, bedtime and 2 hours after each meal. More tests for exercise or feeling low or high. If you are not on insulin, morning, bedtime, and after unusual meals where you ate a lot of carbs or had a meal whose carbs you are unfamiliar with. Add feeling low or high to that and possibly exercise times.

This doesn't account for sick days or stress days.
Mike

[princesslinda]

I'm a transcriptionist, and when I first started testing my poor fingers felt bruised all the time. Then someone mentioned testing on the sides of the fingers and this works well for me.

I've tested on my forearms, and while it doesn't hurt, it left small bruise-like spots on my arms...which were quite noticeable as i'm very fair-skinned.

I test 4-5 times a day, more if I get an "odd/unexpected" reading.

[fgummett]

Yes... use the sides of your fingers and you should not have soreness when typing.

As for your frequency question: I think what is more important is timing... the whole idea is get a feel for how you live with diabetes throughout each day... for example is your sugar higher when you wake than when you go to sleep? And to find out how various food and activities affect your sugars. To that aim you probably want to test on waking, 2 hours after breakfast, just before lunch, 2 hours after lunch, before supper, 2 hours after supper and before bed BUT you don't need to do all of those every day... you can stagger the tests over each few days. Obviously you want to do more when you are first learning about your diabetes and experimenting with different foods. Once you are comfortable and know your own patterns you may want to reduce the frequency of testing but be sure to step it back up during times of illness or stress.

On occasion I watch the DLife TV show and their slogan is, "test... don't guess!"

[buddy7]

Hey -- Scrabb's!!

My Diabetic nurse once said to me, stay away from your thumb and index finger, those are your workers, take your pick from the others, I personally use my 3rd finger, and go to the sides a little.

Tried forearms a few times, when I was first diagnose, didn't work for me, those pricks would take ages to go away, not a good idea.

When you're first diagnose, it becomes a learning curb, you want to experiment, until you get things right, and comfortable for your-self, one of my biggest concerns, was getting the lancet depth correct, so too much blood wasn't drawn, I try not to test too many times a day, I've got it down to a fine art now, once or twice a day is enough.

I hope you find, all fellow posters tips useful, I wish you, the best for the future, keep posting, and let us no how you get on.

B/7 ESSEX UK.

[Scrabblechick]

Thanks, Buddy7 and all who have given me such good, solid advice. I really do appreciate it so much. I signed up yesterday and I've already learned enough today to teach my own class, thanks to you folks!

[kgm0612]

I favor my thumbs but I need to start rotating to other fingers because my thumbs are all calloused.

Karen