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10-30-2009, 11:47 AM
| | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 105
| | | Will alcohol affect test results?
Hi everyone. I was dx'ed less than a month ago so I have tons of questions for you! Hopefully in time I'll be able to return the favor for other newbies. 
Sometimes when I test I notice my blood seems a little thin.
No doubt it's due to the alcohol pads.
My question is, will this affect the results I get?
It doesn't seem to, but I'd feel better knowing for sure if my finger needs to be completely dry after wiping it with the pads.
Thanks in advance.
__________________
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
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10-30-2009, 11:50 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Missouri Ozarks
Posts: 1,886
| | | You will get skewed results unless you allow your finger to dry completely after swabbing it with the alcohol wipe. Actually, if you wash your hands thoroughly & dry on a clean towel, you could eliminate the alcohol wipes altogether - they can eventually dry your skin and make the punctures more difficult/painful.
__________________  "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, 02:52 PM
| | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 105
| | | Thanks, Granny. I have begun to notice the punctures are getting more painful. I chalked it up to my fingers turning into what looks like ground meat.
Does it matter if I use a fragrence-free hand soap? I don't like stuff with a fragrance, but my supermarket doesn't seem to carry anything in a pump bottle that's fragrence-free. Any suggestions? I'll get it online if need be.
__________________
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
|
10-30-2009, 02:56 PM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Missouri Ozarks
Posts: 1,886
| |
__________________ "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
|
10-30-2009, 03:54 PM
|  | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NorCal
Posts: 108
| | | I can't afford alcohol wipes, so I used to use 70% isopropyl alcohol applied with a couple squares of toilet paper. It took too long to wait for my skin to dry because the other 30% is water. I switched to 91% isopropyl alcohol applied the same way and the surface of my finger is dry in less than 10 seconds. I've been doing this for the last 100 days and don't notice any change in my skin texture (dryer).
__________________
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, 04:01 PM
| | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 105
| | Amazingly, we don't have a Walmart anywhere close than a 30-45 minute drive. 
__________________
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
|
10-30-2009, 05:36 PM
| | Junior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: north queensland australia
Posts: 59
| | | I was told by a diabetes educator that you should never use alcohol wipes as it hardens and dries out the skin, making lancing and injecting harder. |
10-30-2009, 05:48 PM
| | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 105
| | | I can't easily wash my tummy before each meal so it seems I'm stuck using alcohol pads for that. But I've already switched to washing my hands before lancing.
__________________
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
|
10-30-2009, 06:31 PM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New Brunswick Canada, eh
Posts: 8,672
| | | I can't remember the last time I bought isopropyl alcohol swabs or bottles. I did use them for a number of years for injections, until pens came out. Never used them for finger pricks.
Clean and dry hands are all you need. |
10-30-2009, 06:40 PM
|  | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Brazil
Posts: 273
| | | There's no need to wash or use alcohol before injecting. I don't even wash before testing unless I know my hands are contaminated.
__________________
Diagnosed 03/27/09
MDI - Lantus & Humalog
A1c
Mar 09 - 10.5
Jun 09 - 5.4
Sep 09 - 5.4 |
10-30-2009, 06:46 PM
| | Junior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: China
Posts: 30
| | | Personally, I've never used alcohol wipes.
Wash with antibacterial soap, dry with clean towel, wait 5 minutes for residual moisture to air dry, then test.
Why add to the expense? |
10-30-2009, 06:48 PM
| | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 105
| | | Now I'm confused. I use pens. Novolog in my tummy and Lantus on the inside of my thighs. Are you really saying I don't need to clean those areas first? That seems counter-intuitive to me.
__________________
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
|
10-30-2009, 06:51 PM
| | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Brazil
Posts: 273
| | | No, you don't need to clean. If you're super paranoid you can clean first, but 99% of people don't clean and don't get infections or anything.
__________________
Diagnosed 03/27/09
MDI - Lantus & Humalog
A1c
Mar 09 - 10.5
Jun 09 - 5.4
Sep 09 - 5.4 |
10-30-2009, 07:00 PM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Vancouver Island B.C.
Posts: 569
| | | I believe most people do clean, but few use alcohol.
__________________
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
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10-30-2009, 07:29 PM
| | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 105
| | Susan, I need a business partner. I want to create alcohol pads impregnated with lotion! 
__________________
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
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