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10-30-2009, 07:56 PM
|  | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NorCal
Posts: 108
| | | Rumors that alcohol dries out your skin and makes it harder to puncture are just that, rumors. The skin consists of two layers, the inner and thicker dermis, and the outer and thinner epidermis. It takes about 35 days for the epidermis to replace itself. It replaces itself quicker than other parts of the body because it's exposed to the outside world and is constantly being abraded and (poked) at, especially the hands. Your fingers replace their skin faster than any other part of your skin. It's virtually impossible to dry out the skin on your fingers with isopropyl alcohol for the short amount of time that the alcohol is on them. I use 91% isopropyl alcohol on the two different fingers I test on 3 times a day and they're as soft as a baby's behind.
__________________
Diagnosed T1 July 2009 with a BG of 530
HbA1c Results:
July 2009:15.3
Oct 2009: 6.3
Currently Taking:
Lantus [25 units]
Insulin Taken Through:
Lantus SoloStar
Glucometer:
Bayer Breeze2
Other Meds:
Lipitor 20MG
Lisinopril 10MG
Aspirin 81MG
Centrum Silver |
10-30-2009, 10:00 PM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Missouri Ozarks
Posts: 1,883
| | (shrug) Rumors that you must disinfect with alcohol before testing/injecting are just that: Rumors. Experience has taught us that clean is necessary - sterile is not necessary. Quote:
Originally Posted by Bountyman  Rumors that alcohol dries out your skin and makes it harder to puncture are just that, rumors. The skin consists of two layers, the inner and thicker dermis, and the outer and thinner epidermis. It takes about 35 days for the epidermis to replace itself. It replaces itself quicker than other parts of the body because it's exposed to the outside world and is constantly being abraded and (poked) at, especially the hands. Your fingers replace their skin faster than any other part of your skin. It's virtually impossible to dry out the skin on your fingers with isopropyl alcohol for the short amount of time that the alcohol is on them. I use 91% isopropyl alcohol on the two different fingers I test on 3 times a day and they're as soft as a baby's behind. |
__________________  "Reputation is what others know about you.
Honor is what you know about yourself." Lois McMaster Bujold "Courage is not the towering oak that sees storms come and go;
it is the fragile blossom that opens in the snow." Alice Mackenzie Swaim
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10-30-2009, 10:33 PM
| | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NorCal
Posts: 108
| | | "Experience has taught us that clean is necessary - sterile is not necessary."
Experience tells me that clean is necessary - sterile is optional. If the nurse that draws my blood for an A1c test wiped my arm down with a kitchen towel before she stuck the sterile needle in my arm...I might agree with you.
__________________
Diagnosed T1 July 2009 with a BG of 530
HbA1c Results:
July 2009:15.3
Oct 2009: 6.3
Currently Taking:
Lantus [25 units]
Insulin Taken Through:
Lantus SoloStar
Glucometer:
Bayer Breeze2
Other Meds:
Lipitor 20MG
Lisinopril 10MG
Aspirin 81MG
Centrum Silver
Last edited by Bountyman : 10-30-2009 at 10:35 PM.
Reason: edited for speling
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10-30-2009, 10:44 PM
| | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NorCal
Posts: 108
| | | Speaking of "not necessary"...did you know that when they give a condemned man a lethal injection...the guy inserting the needle uses an alcohol wipe, first?
What's up with that?
__________________
Diagnosed T1 July 2009 with a BG of 530
HbA1c Results:
July 2009:15.3
Oct 2009: 6.3
Currently Taking:
Lantus [25 units]
Insulin Taken Through:
Lantus SoloStar
Glucometer:
Bayer Breeze2
Other Meds:
Lipitor 20MG
Lisinopril 10MG
Aspirin 81MG
Centrum Silver |
10-30-2009, 11:11 PM
| | Member | | Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 159
| | | I cant believe so many of you still use your fingers for glucose test...I switched to forearm about 5 years ago and doing 5-10/day its a dream.
And, unless Ive been out sweating or getting grungy, I never use alcohol first. |
10-31-2009, 12:12 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Missouri Ozarks
Posts: 1,883
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by Bountyman Experience tells me that clean is necessary - sterile is optional. If the nurse that draws my blood for an A1c test wiped my arm down with a kitchen towel before she stuck the sterile needle in my arm...I might agree with you. | I can't speak for other "kitchens", but the towels in MY kitchen have been "sterilized" by being laundered in hot water & Clorox bleach. 
__________________ "Reputation is what others know about you.
Honor is what you know about yourself." Lois McMaster Bujold "Courage is not the towering oak that sees storms come and go;
it is the fragile blossom that opens in the snow." Alice Mackenzie Swaim
|
10-31-2009, 12:41 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Vancouver Island B.C.
Posts: 569
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by gary.keith Susan, I need a business partner. I want to create alcohol pads impregnated with lotion!  | GK, At my age, if I were in the room, even alcohol pads would refuse to become impregnated.
__________________
Susan
DX Dec4/08 FBG 19(342)
Dec4 /08 A1C 10.9
Feb.4/09 A1C 7.6
may4 /09 A1C 5.2 
Sept 4/09 A1C 5.4
Current meds: 21/2x 500g metformin, 5 mg ramipril, multivitamins, Ca, 500g alpha lipoic acid
Low carb- started at < 50 , now can handle 100
|
10-31-2009, 11:33 AM
| | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 105
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by networkguy I cant believe so many of you still use your fingers for glucose test...I switched to forearm about 5 years ago and doing 5-10/day its a dream. | My endo told me to only use my fingers. No reason was given, just do it! She's also told me a few things that seem to be somewhat contradicted by the real-world experiences of DF members. I'm not sure what to do. I was always taught to obey my doctors. But if I did that, then based on what my PCP tells me, I'd weigh 170 pounds even though I'm 6'1" with a large frame. I haven't been 170 pounds since junior high school and at 215 my entire adult life (53 yo now) I'm not fat! Quote:
Originally Posted by sumi GK, At my age, if I were in the room, even alcohol pads would refuse to become impregnated. | LOL
__________________
Alright! I know I'm in there! If I don't come out, I'll have to come in after me!
Misdiagnosed T2 September 2009 with a BG of 1,240
Diagnosed T1 November 2009
A1c 9.4% November 2009
Novolog MDI
Lantus 25 morning / 30 evening
|
10-31-2009, 01:04 PM
| | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NorCal
Posts: 108
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by Granny Shanny I can't speak for other "kitchens", but the towels in MY kitchen have been "sterilized" by being laundered in hot water & Clorox bleach. | Lemme axe you this; What do you wipe the excess blood off your finger with?
__________________
Diagnosed T1 July 2009 with a BG of 530
HbA1c Results:
July 2009:15.3
Oct 2009: 6.3
Currently Taking:
Lantus [25 units]
Insulin Taken Through:
Lantus SoloStar
Glucometer:
Bayer Breeze2
Other Meds:
Lipitor 20MG
Lisinopril 10MG
Aspirin 81MG
Centrum Silver |
10-31-2009, 01:11 PM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Missouri Ozarks
Posts: 1,883
| | | my tongue, of course.
__________________ "Reputation is what others know about you.
Honor is what you know about yourself." Lois McMaster Bujold "Courage is not the towering oak that sees storms come and go;
it is the fragile blossom that opens in the snow." Alice Mackenzie Swaim
|
10-31-2009, 01:15 PM
| | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 105
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by Granny Shanny my tongue, of course. |  Grrroosss!
I think you've helped me make up my mind to stick with alcohol pads!
__________________
Alright! I know I'm in there! If I don't come out, I'll have to come in after me!
Misdiagnosed T2 September 2009 with a BG of 1,240
Diagnosed T1 November 2009
A1c 9.4% November 2009
Novolog MDI
Lantus 25 morning / 30 evening
|
10-31-2009, 01:19 PM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Missouri Ozarks
Posts: 1,883
| | Nah . . . I was just yankin' Bountyman's chain . . .
What I do is fold a sheet of tissue & place it in a little net compartment of my meter case. Just press my finger on it for a second. There's never much blood anyhow - my meter needs a very small sample. Change the tissue when it gets too speckled.
__________________ "Reputation is what others know about you.
Honor is what you know about yourself." Lois McMaster Bujold "Courage is not the towering oak that sees storms come and go;
it is the fragile blossom that opens in the snow." Alice Mackenzie Swaim
|
10-31-2009, 01:28 PM
| | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NorCal
Posts: 108
| | | I meant, what do you use to wipe it off with when it isn't Halloween?
__________________
Diagnosed T1 July 2009 with a BG of 530
HbA1c Results:
July 2009:15.3
Oct 2009: 6.3
Currently Taking:
Lantus [25 units]
Insulin Taken Through:
Lantus SoloStar
Glucometer:
Bayer Breeze2
Other Meds:
Lipitor 20MG
Lisinopril 10MG
Aspirin 81MG
Centrum Silver |
10-31-2009, 01:43 PM
| | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NorCal
Posts: 108
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by Granny Shanny What I do is fold a sheet of tissue & place it in a little net compartment of my meter case. Just press my finger on it for a second. There's never much blood anyhow - my meter needs a very small sample. Change the tissue when it gets too speckled. | This is where I find the fold of toilet paper that has the alcohol on it serving a twofold (no pun intended) purpose, wiping off the excess blood, then I toss it in the waste basket.
I have all of my diabetes stuff, including my med's, right here at the computer desk. As with everything we (diabetics) do...this seems to work very well for me. Besides, if I washed my hands at the sink I'd feel obligated to do my dishes... something I've found quite the apathetic chore since my divorce 20 years ago.
__________________
Diagnosed T1 July 2009 with a BG of 530
HbA1c Results:
July 2009:15.3
Oct 2009: 6.3
Currently Taking:
Lantus [25 units]
Insulin Taken Through:
Lantus SoloStar
Glucometer:
Bayer Breeze2
Other Meds:
Lipitor 20MG
Lisinopril 10MG
Aspirin 81MG
Centrum Silver |
10-31-2009, 01:53 PM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
Posts: 5,277
| | Lancet gets changed once in a blue moon, hands get washed if I've been handling food or if I need to warm them for improved circulation, stick the side of my finger rather than the pad and after blood is sampled, the finger goes straight in my mouth... waste not want not  6+ years with no infections
__________________
Frank
51 year old male, Metabolic Syndrome Dx Mar. 2003 |
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