using fingers for monitoring

[christie]

i do'nt know if someone has wrote about this(if so i apologize),but i use my ring finger and pinky for monitoring sugars,i have favored my right hand since i'm a lefty. but i've noticed that my fingers have gotten scarred to the point that i can't use those fingers for testing,i've got the lancet as high as the setting would go,i've put lotion on them, and used the fingers lotion on them,but they still feel scarred and hard like callased,is there something that would fix this?

[Clint]

you need to rotate the fingers as you test... I typically use a different finger each time I test and just use them all...

[christie]

it always seemed like the index and middle finger hurt to use those, so i just used my ring finger and pinky on both hands,after 21 years of being diabetic i guess its catching up with me.

[Clint]

I have only had T1 for almost 6yrs now but I have always rotated fingers because mine tend to get tough and its harder to test...

I also have had better luck since moving to the Freestyle Flash... it needs alot less blood which in turn means my finger pricks are smaller...

[lgvincent]

I use all my fingers and thumbs and rotate between each side and the center of the finger. I get holes in my fingers but they go away, usually after a few days. There is a lancet device called the UltraSoft made by OneTouch and it doesn't hurt very much. I would encourage you to try it. Since you have an Ultra meter, you may already have one. If not, if I should ever come across some, I'll try to get one to you.

[KickStart101]

Hi Christie: Wow! Your poor fingers. Like the rest have said, you need
to rotate fingers. It's not that hard once you get onto it. You have 8 fingers. If you hit each side of those fingers: 16 spots(can you imagine??????????????). Not to mention the middle of each finger: Another
8 spots. Two thumbs: 2 sides each and middle: 6 more spots.
HMMMMMMMM..I count about 30 Happy spots to your unhappy 8 spots.
I am right-handed, but I sure do test with my left hand also..........have to.
***Carlie*** :) Sorry, if I'm preaching! Have a Great Day!!!!!!! :thumbsup:

[Belinda]

Like they said use all your fingers. I am a lefty and tend to favor my right hand. I tend to foget which finger I used in the previous stick but all in all I do pretty well.

[buzzborne]

I only tend to use my pinkie or ring finger, find the other ones too painful..I tend to use my right hand also, but I am right handed, when I start having difficulty getting blood out those two, I swap to the left hand!

[lgvincent]

I just start with the thumb at breakfast then move to the index finger, the middle finger, ring finger, and pinky. On odd days I use the left hand, on even days I use the right hand. I'll use one side, then the middle, then the other side of the finger, depending on the day.

[dws]

Try your palm. the pad close to your wrist. I ran out of fingers long ago found the palm by accident. Nice way to give the fingers a rest.
don

[rzrbks]

dws

I ran out of fingers long ago

:smartass: Sorry to hear about that dws, hope they show up again some day :whistling
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christie,

they're correct, if you rotate which fingers you poke, it makes it easier to get blood from them

[BeadieJay]

I use all my fingers and thumbs and rotate between each side and the center of the finger.

Lowell - or anyone else who uses the centre of the finger - I know this is a stupid question, but when you say the centre of the finger, do you mean the bit, that if you had your palms flat down on the table, it would be the bit that's touching the table? Or do you mean the centre as in, under the finger nail?

Sorry for being dumb, but I've only just realised (from reading this thread) that I can use both sides of my fingers, and I'd like to use every available bit of finger that's good for testing, with the minimum of pain!!! (and I'm too much of a wimp to try anything out without good reason LOL) :whistling

[lgvincent]

It would be closer to the tip, even when using the side of the finger.

[buzzborne]

I was told my both dr and nurse to never to use the pad of the finger as tht is the most sensitive and u also use it for gripping.

[rzrbks]

BeadieJay Quote:

Lowell - or anyone else who uses the centre of the finger - I know this is a stupid question, but when you say the centre of the finger, do you mean the bit, that if you had your palms flat down on the table, it would be the bit that's touching the table? Or do you mean the centre as in, under the finger nail?


Yes, I do use that part sometimes, especially when I'm very cold or been out in the cold and need to check "Right Now">>>but then I use that area when I'm lazy too. :whistling

[lgvincent]

For me, it would be fairly close to the fingernail and not the pad.

[docta-docta]

I recall a patient in a hospital being tested with an Accu-Chek hospital meter. The operator of it was quite clueless and always lanced the patient's finger pad using a disposable lancet device. I was trying to instruct him on how to make it less painful for the patient, but since he spoke little English, it was impossible. (In America, nurses are being hired from other countries because they aren't paid very well).

What disgusted me more at the end of watching him work was that I realized he was using the same disposable lancet device at the end of his rounds. At least six patients "shared" the same lancet device. DISGUSTING!

From that experience, I have to suggest that you carry your own lancet device around and insist on using it, if you are capable.
:eek:

[Maria]

I use all my fingers even the thumbs and I rotate them. Furthermore I use a hand lotion "Diabetes Line". This lotion is very good for my fingers. :thumbsup:

docta-docta I also met such nurses :( One of them used disposable medical gloves many times. These gloves were covered blood of another patient. It was awfully!!!And now I carry my own lancet device and medical gloves for unscrupulous nurses. ;)

[rzrbks]

Maria

I use all my fingers even the thumbs and I rotate them. :eek: :eek: :eek:

Doesn't that hurt :smartass:

[Simons]

I check my bs' at least six times a day. I use all of my fingers except my thumbs. I use one finger as many times as it is comfortable, probably 10-12 times. Than I move on to the next finger and just keep rotating. I have been doing this for many years.
Simons

[docta-docta]

Maria,

Goodness... bloody gloves is really scary! That's more scary than this:

The sandwich guy at my local Subway was using the same gloves to collect money from patrons and to build sandwiches. It was disgusting seeing him dip his dirty money-grubby hands into the various items for building a sandwich. I informed him of his lack of following posted rules by the State Health Department.

His response?

"We're out of gloves, and have to share the pair I'm using now."

Let's just say that I didn't get my sandwich and won't be returning to that particular Subway store any time soon.