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Am I the only one with this problem

Mal37

Well-Known Member
Messages
282
Location
Staffordshire
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Social situations
I know this sounds silly but I have ten fingers yet can only get blood out of one!
No matter how high I turn my lancing device to, I can't draw blood from any of my fingers other than my left hand little finger (which oozes out easily and quickly!!!
I keep trying my ring finger and it does prick it but I squeeze and squeeze to no avail.
Does anyone else find the same problem?
I have wasted so many test strips when trying to use a different finger.
I don't click the pads ... just the sides.
 
Last edited:
Hi try washing and soaking them in warm water for a couple of minutes works for me give it a go ?Ps don't squeeze your fingers to tightly just gently draw the blood down.
 
Have you altered the depth setting on the lancet device? They usually range from 1 to 5, including halves. 5 is the deepest.
 
@Mal37 I squeeze from below where I prick, towards my fingertip. And I have always been already squeezing before I prick. And that 'captured in squeeze' blood ain't going nowhere but out of the hole......!

Works every time on any finger for me, except when I'm freezing cold.
 
Mal37 said:
I know this sounds silly but I have ten fingers yet can only get blood out of one!
Click to expand...

Which lancing device are you using? Some of them are a waste of time, if possible try and get hold of a Accu-Chek Fastclix. it has a good range of depth settings and is comfortable to use.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
Have you altered the depth setting on the lancet device? They usually range from 1 to 5, including halves. 5 is the deepest.
Click to expand...
Yes I have it on 5 but it makes no difference Bluetit1802. All it does is hurt more (lol)
 
noblehead said:
Which lancing device are you using? Some of them are a waste of time, if possible try and get hold of a Accu-Chek Fastclix. it has a good range of depth settings and is comfortable to use.
Click to expand...
I have the SD Codefree with it's accompanying lancing device Noblehead. I cannot afford to replace it ... or pay more than I do now for teststrips. It works fine on my little finger so I think all my flow of blood is in there!!! Ha ha
 
Mal37 said:
Yes I have it on 5 but it makes no difference Bluetit1802. All it does is hurt more (lol)
Click to expand...

You certainly aren't the only one. I struggle too, but usually when my hands are cold. After I've washed them in warm water and rinsed in even warmer water, I give them a good rub on a towel and then rub my hands together. This works better. When my hands are warm I have less trouble.

I agree with @noblehead about the Accu Chek Fastclix. It is the best lancet device there is. I have seen them for sale on Amazon and they sell them in pharmacies.
 
 
I will give that a try in the morning when I next test then
 
Mal37 said:
I have the SD Codefree with it's accompanying lancing device Noblehead. I cannot afford to replace it ... or pay more than I do now for teststrips. It works fine on my little finger so I think all my flow of blood is in there!!! Ha ha
Click to expand...

You don't have to replace your meter to use a different lancing device - all it does is prick your finger and if and when you get a drop out it will be the same blood whatever you use to make a hole! (I've used my Fastclix with three different brands of meter so far.) It's only the meter and strips that must be compatible. Boots have recently had a sale on Accu-Chek items, so it may be worth looking online to see if you can still find a bargain Fastclix.

I don't actually have a big issue with different fingers, although the little one on my right hand is definitely by far the most co-operative when it comes to blood letting - so gets used preferentially!! But having warm hands and the aid of gravity - arm/fingers pointing downwards and getting a bit of a shake before I attack - helps with the blood flow to my fingertips if needs be.

Robbity
 
By far the easiest and best results I have had had been with the Accu-chek Fastclix lancet device. It's also made easier I've found to keep your hands well-moisturised, as all that hand washing before testing does otherwise dry the skin out. Having warm hands at testing time helps, but I do find from time to time certain fingers do refuse to co-operate, and simply leave them alone for a couple of days. My thumbs and little pinkies rarely work, so I tend not to bother with those.
Also, if your skin is soft, I found that a shallower setting actually drew blood easier and of course less noticeable, than previously with tough skin and on setting 5.
I rotate weekly as to pads/sides too, so no surface gets over-used.
 
That's really useful advise Nidge247. Thank you
 
Sometimes if I can't get blood on one side of finger I try on the other-side and can.
 
Mal37 said:
I have the SD Codefree with it's accompanying lancing device Noblehead. I cannot afford to replace it ... or pay more than I do now for teststrips. It works fine on my little finger so I think all my flow of blood is in there!!! Ha ha
Click to expand...

Give theAccu-Chek Careline a ring, can't promise but they might send you out the Fastclix for free as they'll know you'll be buying the lancets thereafter.
 
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