Cannot get enough blood to test

karbase8 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 01:02 PM

Hi,
I am new here. I was recently diagnosed with Type II and was given the Accu-Check Aviva glucose monitor. The first day I tested I had to prick my finger 3 or 4 time and got enough blood to test. Every other time since, I have pricked myself numerous times with lancets on the sides of my fingertips squeezed the blood and get such a small amount of blood I can't get a reading. Does anyone have any good tips for me? It's very frustrating and I don't know what my blood sugar is while started insulin and metformin. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

princesslinda · #2 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 01:12 PM

You may need to set your lancer at a deeper setting.

Also, you can try rinsing your hands in warm water before testing, or clap or shake them a few times to get the blood pumping.

Test on the sides of your fingers, not the pads.

Dis-N-Dat · #3 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 01:24 PM

Welcome Krabase8:

Linda's advice is perfect! I had the same question a couple of days ago and her answers worked great!

Granny Shanny · #4 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 02:31 PM

It helps a lot that your hands be warm . . . those little capillaries tighten up when they get cold!

inkvisitor · #5 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 02:55 PM

Yep - that about covers it. Hang your hands by your side, wash them in warm water, massage them, etc. You can also press harder on the lancet (assuming you have it at the maximum setting already) but that may hurt!

Amberyl · #6 (**permalink**) 08-18-2009, 05:03 PM

Hold the lancing device down firmly, but don't press it too hard into your skin or it will restrict the blood flow. Also, don't take the lancing device away immediately after you feel the bite of the prick. Hold it down a moment longer. It's instinctive to just jerk back the device with the recoil of the spring, and the reflexive "ow"; avoid doing that.

This was a key tip I picked up from one of the glucometer manufacturer sites (Abbott's, I think).

genie86333 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-18-2009, 07:48 PM

Also, I've found that the "exercises" I was given for tendonitis in my wrists help get the blood flow going:

1. Hold hands in front of you & about waist level (definitely below the heart) Start with hand in loose fists, then flick the fingers outward (like you're trying to flick water of them at someone standing in front of you.) Do this 5 or 6 times quickly.

2. Tap the tip of the thumb of each hand against each of the fingers on the same hand one after the other.

That usually gets it going even better than warm water.