- Messages
- 53
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Other
If I disinfect the site of the blood glucose reading with rubbing alcohol and then take the reading while the site is still slightly damp from the alcohol, can that affect the reading?
I have had some problems in the past with prolonged soreness at the spot on my fingers where I take the readings, so I have been disinfecting the site with alcohol before and after the reading. This has virtually eliminated the soreness.
I keep a small bottle of alcohol on my desk. I dip the finger into the alcohol, let it dry, take the reading, wipe the blood off the finger, dip the finger in the alcohol again, and let it dry.
Every once in awhile, I get in a rush and may not let the finger dry completely before taking the reading. I can tell when this happens, even though the finger looks dry, because the blood looks thinner, more like water than blood.
Just now, it happened again. So I decided to run a little test. I took another reading at a different spot and got a much higher reading. I then took a third and got a reading in between the first two. Here are those readings:
What's the best way to disinfect the reading site without affecting the reading?
I have had some problems in the past with prolonged soreness at the spot on my fingers where I take the readings, so I have been disinfecting the site with alcohol before and after the reading. This has virtually eliminated the soreness.
I keep a small bottle of alcohol on my desk. I dip the finger into the alcohol, let it dry, take the reading, wipe the blood off the finger, dip the finger in the alcohol again, and let it dry.
Every once in awhile, I get in a rush and may not let the finger dry completely before taking the reading. I can tell when this happens, even though the finger looks dry, because the blood looks thinner, more like water than blood.
Just now, it happened again. So I decided to run a little test. I took another reading at a different spot and got a much higher reading. I then took a third and got a reading in between the first two. Here are those readings:
- 12:31 am 132 mg/dL
- 12:32 am 239 mg/dL
- 12:34 am 212 mg/dL
What's the best way to disinfect the reading site without affecting the reading?