Stick it to me baby!

[Debbie Sue]

For the most accurate bsl reading, where is the best place on the body to stick for the test? The most painless? Will all monitors accept alternate site sticks and still give accurate readings?

[poodlebone]

For the most accurate bsl reading, where is the best place on the body to stick for the test? The most painless? Will all monitors accept alternate site sticks and still give accurate readings?

The most accurate, up-to-date readings are from the fingers. Pretty much all meters now are approved for alternate site testing but they warn you that the results may be 20 minutes behind the numbers you'd get from a fingerstick. So an alternate site reading might be what you number was 20 minutes ago, while the fingerstick is NOW. They recommend you not use alternate site testing during times when your BG might be changing rapidly.

I think the pain question is relative. I've tried the fleshy part of my palm, under the thumb, and it hurt. I never got enough blood from my arm for a test, yet it would ooze for an hour afterward. I stick with my fingers but I only use the sides of the first joints. Never right on the tip or the pads of the fingers. It rarely hurts, only once in awhile when I use my pinky or index finger (I use those least) and forget to change the lancet devide depth.

[slipperyelm]

The most painless site is an individual matter. For me, it is my thumbs. Most painful are my ring fingers, especially the one on the right hand. But wouldn't you know it--the ring fingers also most reliably give me enough blood with the lancet set to a shallower depth. I use all my fingers, usually four tests per finger, then I move to the next one in line. I do use those painful ring fingers, but to this day (15 years) I still brace myself upon lancing those.

I've tried the arm--sometimes with no trouble, usually I have a lot of trouble getting enough blood, even following the directions and using the correct end cap on the lancet. Once my are bruised hugely, like I sometimes see elderly people's arms bruised when they've been hospitalized with mutiple IVs and blood draws. Ha, I did not even get enough blood for a sample. After that experience, I have never tried the arm again. Besides, I'd rather have the more dynamic blood glucose reading that one gets from the fingers.

Something that has made me a "believer" in endorphins is that I have noticed that after a sustained cardiovascular exercise, there is no pain in testing. Normally I do have a little pain with every test.

Some people have less pain with this or that lancet device. For some reason the lancet that came with my Ultra Mini One Touch meter has been pretty good, even though it feels and sounds klunkly in use. I'm using the same tips as for my regular One Touch Ultra, so that is not the reason.

All, in all, I think you will find out over time what sites, lancets, etc, work best for you. :)

[Debbie Sue]

I've been sticking the fingers on my left hand and they are bruised. :( I guess I need to switch to my right hand for a bit. I know it's going to be more sensitive than the left though.

[UpNorth]

I mostly stick to my fingers. I just use arm if my hands are too dirty or when i have to test using one hand only (i have an accu-chek compact for that).

Overall, i'm more likely to feel some pain when i prick a finger on my right hand, and my ringfingers are SO painful i only use them when i have to! I like the middle finger best, but i do rotate and use all fingers, even the painful ones...

[BrianSCohen]

As you might expect, practice improves technique. Here are some helpful suggestions. Always rotate your lancing sites, giving at least several days for a site to heal before returning. Use the minimum lancing depth necessary to get the required sampe size. Don't squeeze your finger, it is not a grapefruit, you really do bruise easily. If you have a particularly sensitive area, skip it. If you hit a vein that bleeds too much or you bruise, give that spot extra time to heal. I follow a repeating pattern, hitting the left sides of my fingers in the first joint, all fingers (but not thumb), then the right side, then I click the lance to a deeper setting and repeat on the second joint. I don't do my pads or thumb, skin is too thick. Testing three times a day, this gives me three to four days between any repeat site. Always change your lance more frequently than I do, but you don't need a new lance every time. Cleanliness trumps location for an accurate reading, but in a pinch your mouth can be used to clean if you have not eaten in a while.

[slipperyelm]

Even that "don't squeeze" advice is not one size fits all. If I did not squeeze, I usually would not get blood. If I have to squeeze too much, though, I will do a new puncture.

[fgummett]

Even that "don't squeeze" advice is not one size fits all. If I did not squeeze, I usually would not get blood.I think it is OK to gently squeeze or "milk" your finger to help the blood along but if you squeeze too much or too long I believe you can get plasma-dilution (?) which gives a false reading. As a general rule, if I don't get a good drop almost immediately, I go to the other hand or at least another finger and start over.

[Jill-O]

I've been sticking the fingers on my left hand and they are bruised. :( I guess I need to switch to my right hand for a bit. I know it's going to be more sensitive than the left though.

I think your fingers will toughen up and it will not hurt as much later as it does now. I remember when I first started testing, my finger tips really were sore but not anymore.

[Scrabblechick]

I use all my fingers except my index fingers. My thumbs are the least painful, although I change the depth for those. Oddly, I almost always get a big drop from my pinkies, with very little squeezing.

As many have said, the Multiclix pen is the least painful method. They're great little gadgets.

[sprzepiora]

I use all my fingers except the middle as that is used for something else :D

no seriously, I just stick any old finger that happens to be handy, but my pinkies seem to get the most of them. I test at least eight times a day.

[priamus]

I test 3 x times daily (more if my reading is a bit high)

Monday = Left Hand little finger
Tuesday = Left hand 2nd finger
Wednesday = Left Hand 3rd finger
Thursday = Change hands and repeat the process until the end of the week

This gives your fingers a nominal weekly rest & recuperative break.

Cheers,
My monthly GL average for the last 6 months is 6.8, ranging from 6.5 to 7.1

[shoreguyy]

you gotta be kidding...never use your mouth to "clean" anything ...sorry to be so dramatic but your mouth is the dirtiest part of your body ...your mouth has more germs and such than any other area before or after brushing ...don't believe me ask your dr....plus why would anyone be in such a pinch to take their BS reading that you couldn't change your lancet...no situation dictates taking your BS when not prepared to do so ...

[fgummett]

you gotta be kidding...never use your mouth to "clean" anything ...sorry to be so dramatic but your mouth is the dirtiest part of your body ...your mouth has more germs and such than any other area before or after brushing ...don't believe me ask your dr....plus why would anyone be in such a pinch to take their BS reading that you couldn't change your lancet...no situation dictates taking your BS when not prepared to do so ...I think you'll find there are many folks here on DF who rarely, if ever, change their lancet :) I go many weeks using the same one without any issues. I also use my mouth to suck my fingers after I stick them. :T

In a hospital, surrounded by disease pathogens and "other people's bugs" I would of course advise hand-washing as a regular routine. Or if I collected garbage bags or road-kill from the side of the road, or worked in a slaughterhouse. But for most of us I really think the emphasis on super-hygiene is more of a marketing ploy that anything else. In fact I believe that our bodies thrive on a little dirt to help keep the immune system in tip-top condition. Our bodies are crawling with microbes... in general these help to keep us healthy or at least do us no harm. In five years of 8-10 finger pricks a day I have yet to get even the slightest hint of an infection. :)

:toilet:
Consider if you will a trip to your local public toilet/bathroom equipped with standard taps, pump-soap and paper roll dispensers: most folks, I observe, turn on the taps with their "dirty hands", pump on some soap (is the pump handle clean?), run it around and rinse it off, usually for no more than 10 seconds; in what is usually either stone-cold, tepid or scorching water. Now with "clean" hands they reach for those same taps which they (and countless others) have touched with "dirty" hands and turn them off. They then turn to the paper roll dispenser and again push the lever to get some paper... same lever touched by countless other hands. Dry their hands, and then what do they reach for... the door handle... I wonder who else has touched that handle and did they even do the cursory rinse you just performed? Their hands were probably "cleaner" before they started this ritual :geezmate:

Fortunately our skin does an excellent job of keeping pathogens out so long as it is intact. So keep it clean and dry, apply some hand-cream if needed and all will be well :)

[fgummett]

In case you are wondering, I am certainly not advocating that you don't wash your hands as this is important to prevent the spread of pathogens (like flu) between people. :D

How I solve the bathroom visit: is to start with the paper dispenser... allow yourself enough paper to dry your hands before reaching for the soap and taps. Adjust the water to hot but not scorching, apply soap and wash for at least the same amount of time it takes you to sing "happy birthday" all the way through twice. DON'T TOUCH THE TAPS! Instead reach for the paper and rip it off. Dry your hands and then USE THE PAPER to turn off the taps. Then use the paper to pump down some more clean paper that you can use to open the door... et viola... really clean hands :)

[Debbie Sue]

Will using an antibacterial gel before a finger prick cause bad/good results? My son uses an alcohol pad to clean his fingers first. Bad or good idea?

[fgummett]

I understand that alcohol can affect your reading. If you do feel a need to use it, at least wait to make sure it has all evaporated before you test.

[princesslinda]

I solve the bathroom dilema by carrying the waterless hand sanitizer in my purse. After I leave the bathroom, I just use it.

I'm another who only changes lancets and pen needles when they hurt. I figure its my blood and germs and i'm not sharing them with anyone else. I've had no problems with it. I don't "lick" my finger after sticking....I hate the taste of blood, but I know many who do, again with no problems.

[xMenace]

you gotta be kidding...never use your mouth to "clean" anything ...sorry to be so dramatic but your mouth is the dirtiest part of your body ...your mouth has more germs and such than any other area before or after brushing ...don't believe me ask your dr....

Agree. Leave the mouth out of it. The mouth is for other things, right Steve? :T


plus why would anyone be in such a pinch to take their BS reading that you couldn't change your lancet...no situation dictates taking your BS when not prepared to do so ...


Because your getting into a car to drive home?

If I only tested when I changed my lancet, I might get a day's worth a year :eek: I just changed my multi-clix this weekend. I got it Septemberish.

[Debbie Sue]

How about cleaning the lancet tip with an alcohol pad after use? It would disinfect it and keep it clean for the next use. I started out changing the lancet 4x a day, but I now use the same one for multiple times.

[fgummett]

How about cleaning the lancet tip with an alcohol pad after use? It would disinfect it and keep it clean for the next use. I started out changing the lancet 4x a day, but I now use the same one for multiple times.I don't believe that this is necessary and may actually blunt the lancet more by pulling over on the point.

As you are just starting out and lancets are not really expensive why not just change them each time for now until you are more confident about the whole deal? Wash your hands in warm soapy water to keep them clean and also to help bring the blood to the surface.. make it easier on yourself until you get used to it :)

The main reason I don't change my lancet so often is just convenience: it's less hassle and less to carry around,... I don't have to worry about finding a sharps' box or safely take the used ones home for disposal.

[Debbie Sue]

I don't believe that this is necessary and may actually blunt the lancet more by pulling over on the point.

As you are just starting out and lancets are not really expensive why not just change them each time for now until you are more confident about the whole deal? Wash your hands in warm soapy water to keep them clean and also to help bring the blood to the surface.. make it easier on yourself until you get used to it :)

The main reason I don't change my lancet so often is just convenience: it's less hassle and less to carry around,... I don't have to worry about finding a sharps' box or safely take the used ones home for disposal.

You've got a good point there with not using an alcohol pad. It didn't occur to me that it would dull the tip.

[fgummett]

As I mentioned above: in hospital it makes sense to be ultra-sensitive to hygiene and this message tends to be passed on to us by our Doctor and nurses but the big risk in hospital is "other peoples bugs". Yes our own microbes can cause infections if we get a cut, but your finger stick should not be deep enough for that. These are your own personal bugs and you live with them around you all the time... I hope no-one is rushing home to shower and scrub their skin raw, but it is just a fact of life that we are colonised by microbes. :D

As for the mouth discussion: it may be true that a human mouth has more nasty microbes than a dog's mouth, BUT... yet again, these are your OWN microbes that you live with all the time... in the right place, they are harmless, and I have no issue with using my mouth to clean my finger after the finger stick... someone else's mouth is another matter altogether :T

[BrianSCohen]

You guys are hilarious. I am always covered with small cuts and things and don't worry about infection from things in my mouth. In fact, the primary reason I choose my mouth is that it is glucose neutral and my own saliva will generally reflect the same glucose concentration as my blood. When I first started lancing I would frequently walk around leaving little blood stains on things. Now, that I consider not only unhygenic, but a little rude, particularly if I am visiting someone elses abode. My mouth is always available for this situation.

On the subject of alcohol, you need to be careful, it will affect the reading. Just to prove this to your self, wash your finger with alcohol, leaving it wet, lance yourself and take a reading. Now wipe the same finger, blow on it and take another reading. My bet is that that the reading from the wet alcohol is substantially lower. Google the subject, you will find many recommendations cautioning to make sure you are absolutely dry after alcohol cleaning. You also need to take care with soaps, some soaps contain substantial glucose and you need to completely wash it away or you contaminate the reading.

I just licked my finger again and I feel just fine.

[fgummett]

I just licked my finger again and I feel just fine.There's nothing living dangerously eh :D