My fingers are sore with BG testing. Ouch!

[Alisonjane10]

Hi Folks

I hope this doesn't sound a stupid question but here goes anyway. I'm newly diagnosed & I'm testing regularly. However, my fingers are now covered in little bruises from the lancets and some are quite tender. Is there a way to stop this? Am I not doing it correctly? I use the side of my fingers & not the pads. Advice gratefully received before people start thinking I self abuse!!

Ali. X

 

[Totto]

Lancet too deep set?

 

[Alisonjane10]

Lancet too deep set?

I only use the lancet on number 1 which is the lowest setting. So I don't think it's that. And I'm not on Aspirin or another type of anticoagulant which would make me more likely to bruise. I alternate fingers at each test too.
Ali.

 

[Bluetit1802]

Join the club! Make sure you moisturise your finger tips regularly.

 

[AndBreathe]

I only use the lancet on number 1 which is the lowest setting. So I don't think it's that. And I'm not on Aspirin or another type of anticoagulant which would make me more likely to bruise. I alternate fingers at each test too.
Ali.

When I started, I used to place the lancing device fairly solidly where I wanted to draw blood. It always worked, but could be a little brutal..

Now I hold the lancing device so that its just touching the skin, and certainly not making any impression on the surface. Press the button = clicking noise and teenie, tiny spec of blood appears, which I wipe away, gently press lower down the finger to help the droplet form, and use that to test. It's much more gentle.

 

[Alisonjane10]

Join the club! Make sure you moisturise your finger tips regularly.

Oh! Lol. Ok, but darn it. Guess I'll get used to it. Thanks for the tip. X

 

[Alisonjane10]

When I started, I used to place the lancing device fairly solidly where I wanted to draw blood. It always worked, but could be a little brutal..

Now I hold the lancing device so that its just touching the skin, and certainly not making any impression on the surface. Press the button = clicking noise and teenie, tiny spec of blood appears, which I wipe away, gently press lower down the finger to help the droplet form, and use that to test. It's much more gentle.

I'll give that a go. Think I probably have been a bit heavy handed. Good advice. Thanks. X

 

[Emmotha]

Are you changing lancets regularly? This makes a BIG difference

 

[anna29]

Keep changing fingers/thumbs and your lancets too .
Better on the side of fingers/thumbs (hurts less this way)
New lancets and adjust your lancet speed if you can do ?
Mine is set on a 2 only .

 

[Alisonjane10]

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to offer advice & support. X

 

[anna29]

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to offer advice & support. X

You're welcome

 

[daddys1]

Hi Folks

I hope this doesn't sound a stupid question but here goes anyway. I'm newly diagnosed & I'm testing regularly. However, my fingers are now covered in little bruises from the lancets and some are quite tender. Is there a way to stop this? Am I not doing it correctly? I use the side of my fingers & not the pads. Advice gratefully received before people start thinking I self abuse!!

Ali. X

Hi Ali,
It can hurt a little when you start, to be honest I have never used my thumb and tend not to use my 1st finger don't know why.

I find, that depending on what finger I am drawing blood from will be what determines what setting I have the lancet setting on.

A low setting EG .5 will only penetrate very slightly used on soft skin. I have fairly rough hands but I only use the .5 on my little fingers, third & fourth finger usually 1 or 1.5 depending on how often I have used the lancet (usually a week before changing) First finger & Thumb would be 2 or possibly 2.5.

If you have very soft fingers then .5 may be enough for nearly all, but I have always applied it fairly firmly against the side of the finger tip, because the setting sets the depth of the lancet, gently touching will not achieve the same results for that setting.

Lastly, to reduce the pain test round the edges of the finger tips including round the end of the finger. Try not to go too close to the side of the knuckle.
Hope this helps.
Neil

 

[Alisonjane10]

Hi Ali,
It can hurt a little when you start, to be honest I have never used my thumb and tend not to use my 1st finger don't know why.

I find, that depending on what finger I am drawing blood from will be what determines what setting I have the lancet setting on.

A low setting EG .5 will only penetrate very slightly used on soft skin. I have fairly rough hands but I only use the .5 on my little fingers, third & fourth finger usually 1 or 1.5 depending on how often I have used the lancet (usually a week before changing) First finger & Thumb would be 2 or possibly 2.5.

If you have very soft fingers then .5 may be enough for nearly all, but I have always applied it fairly firmly against the side of the finger tip, because the setting sets the depth of the lancet, gently touching will not achieve the same results for that setting.

Lastly, to reduce the pain test round the edges of the finger tips including round the end of the finger. Try not to go too close to the side of the knuckle.
Hope this helps.
Neil

GREAT advice Neil. I actually never thought about changing the setting of the lancet depending on which finger i use when testing. I'll give that a try. I do have soft skin on my hands/fingers, so I'll take your tips on board. Thanks so much for the advice. Guess I'm still gonna be a pin cushion, so I might as well make the best of it. Ho hum.
Ali. X

 

[Trace D]

Hi my specialist nurse gave me a lancelet that I can use on my fore arm and also use on the parm of my hand as I used to get big bruises on my fingers and they became really sore, I don't know if this is any help to you but it might be worth asking your nurse or Gp.

 

[Alisonjane10]

Hi my specialist nurse gave me a lancelet that I can use on my fore arm and also use on the parm of my hand as I used to get big bruises on my fingers and they became really sore, I don't know if this is any help to you but it might be worth asking your nurse or Gp.

Hi Trace D
That's really helpful to know. Like you did, I've got sore, bruised fingers despite using the tips from other forum members to minimise the problem. I'm seeing my nurse specialist on Thursday, so I'll discuss the options with her then. Thanks for taking the time to reply to my post. Best wishes.
Ali. X

 

[Trace D]

hi don't know if you can see this I've tried putting up a picture of my lancelet it has 2 end caps one clear which is for to arm an had area also earlobes and the blue is for fingers it called OneTouch.

 

[Alisonjane10]

View attachment 12184 hi don't know if you can see this I've tried putting up a picture of my lancelet it has 2 end caps one clear which is for to arm an had area also earlobes and the blue is for fingers it called OneTouch.

Thanks Trace
I'll copy the photo to my phone & show my nurse specialist. Hopefully, once she sees my fingers she'll take pity on me and prescribe me one too. You're very kind.
Ali. X

 

[Trace D]

Your welcome, good luck I hope you get one or something similar.