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06-10-2008, 06:53 AM
|  | Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Kansas
Posts: 316
| | | 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? |
06-10-2008, 06:58 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
Posts: 1,885
| | | 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.
__________________ ~ Frank Metabolic Syndrome Dx'd March 2003. Started MM 712 Pump April 2004. MM 722 + Contour Link April 2008. "...subjects lose weight by restricting only sugars and starches, without feeling any particular sense of hunger. Moreover, the less carbohydrates in their diets, the greater their weight loss, even though all her subjects were eating equivalent amounts of calories and protein" - Gary Taubes, describing research by Margaret Ohlson |
06-10-2008, 06:58 AM
|  | Super Moderator
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 6,837
| | | 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.
__________________ T2, diagnosed 8/31/06.
Byetta 5 mcg
HCTZ 12.5 mg every other day for BP
Enalapril 20 mg 1 daily (ace-inhibitor)
Lower carb dieter (approx. 75 total carbs/day, more on weekends), taking chromium, multivitamin and fish oil tablets Initial A1C 8/06: 9.6
11/06: 6.2.
03/07: 5.3
06/07: 5.4
10/07: 5.3
05/08: 6.2 (right after dealing with shingles and bronchitis)  |
06-10-2008, 06:59 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Rothesay, New Brunswick Canada, eh
Posts: 6,830
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by 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.... | Agree. Leave the mouth out of it. The mouth is for other things, right Steve?  Quote: |
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  I just changed my multi-clix this weekend. I got it Septemberish. |
06-10-2008, 07:04 AM
| | Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Kansas
Posts: 316
| | | 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. |
06-10-2008, 07:07 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
Posts: 1,885
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by 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. | 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.
__________________ ~ Frank Metabolic Syndrome Dx'd March 2003. Started MM 712 Pump April 2004. MM 722 + Contour Link April 2008. "...subjects lose weight by restricting only sugars and starches, without feeling any particular sense of hunger. Moreover, the less carbohydrates in their diets, the greater their weight loss, even though all her subjects were eating equivalent amounts of calories and protein" - Gary Taubes, describing research by Margaret Ohlson |
06-10-2008, 07:12 AM
| | Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Kansas
Posts: 316
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by fgummett 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. |
06-10-2008, 07:21 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
Posts: 1,885
| | 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. 
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
__________________ ~ Frank Metabolic Syndrome Dx'd March 2003. Started MM 712 Pump April 2004. MM 722 + Contour Link April 2008. "...subjects lose weight by restricting only sugars and starches, without feeling any particular sense of hunger. Moreover, the less carbohydrates in their diets, the greater their weight loss, even though all her subjects were eating equivalent amounts of calories and protein" - Gary Taubes, describing research by Margaret Ohlson |
06-10-2008, 08:25 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oak Hill, VA
Posts: 645
| | | 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.
__________________
...brian
T2 since 7/05. 48 yrs. 5'11 195 lbs.
Exercise, very low carb diet
HbA1c 9/07 - 6.3%, 3/08 - 6.2%, 6/08 - 6.2% |
06-10-2008, 08:28 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
Posts: 1,885
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by BrianSCohen I just licked my finger again and I feel just fine. | There's nothing living dangerously eh
__________________ ~ Frank Metabolic Syndrome Dx'd March 2003. Started MM 712 Pump April 2004. MM 722 + Contour Link April 2008. "...subjects lose weight by restricting only sugars and starches, without feeling any particular sense of hunger. Moreover, the less carbohydrates in their diets, the greater their weight loss, even though all her subjects were eating equivalent amounts of calories and protein" - Gary Taubes, describing research by Margaret Ohlson |
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