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Discarding first drop of blood?

serendipity

Well-Known Member
Messages
116
Location
North East Lincs
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Needles!
Liver
Hello
I have always used the first drop of blood when testing my blood glucose.
I have been given a new meter and they say on there site to

Is it correct to discard the first drop of blood?

Yes

So I did this this morning and what a difference it made!
1st sample at 0928 was 10.7
2nd sample at 0929 was 13.5
these are both before breakfast samples and I have taken my background Insulin but when it comes to me having breakfast and needing my Bolus which should I do regarding 1st or 2nd drop???
I have left a message for my DN

Regards
Linda
 

I simply wipe away the first tiny amount of blood that comes out of the puncture wound. I understand it's to help ensure any surface contaminants are wiped away before testing. I've never bothered to test the bit I wipe away as it would only be <5 seconds apart.
 
This came up a while ago
If you wash your hands ...its the same with 1st or 2nd drop
If you don't wash your hands, 2nd drop is better

They didn't test if licking your finger was good enough
 
I find worrying about the inaccuracies of blood glucose testing pointless unless there is a noticeable problem.......

the insulin isn't that accurate either..........
 
I think accuchek somewhere on the mhra website warnings gave some info sometime this year on people having to be trained orbretrained on how to test themselves.

Am out at the moment but when I have time I will double check this info unless anybody else can look it up in the meantime.

It came under warnings for mechanical equipment..on mhra website.
 
I dont know how accurate you would call these meters to be honest, I had 6.9 one day and then i though I dont think this is right so I did it again straightaway and it went to 6.1
 
jack412 said:
This came up a while ago
If you wash your hands ...its the same with 1st or 2nd drop
If you don't wash your hands, 2nd drop is better

They didn't test if licking your finger was good enough
Click to expand...

Im looking for some handwipes suitable for when Im in the middle of a field dog training, as there is no access to hand washing facilities.
So I normally lick my finger
 
You could always carry one of those mini sprays just filled with water. I carry one with me and it's useful when out and about. I sometimes have to then wipe finger tip on clothing as I don't always have a tissue to hand.
 
Should say - I never use second drop of blood. Hard enough getting the first drop out!!!
 
The practice manager at my gp surgery is now involved and he said to go by the 2nd drop of blood. Im trying to get a better meter,
the accu-chek mobile (which the comapny will send me for free) but the test cassette and lancets are expensive. I find out tomorrow if they will or not.
Thanks Guys for your help
 
serendipity said:
Im looking for some handwipes suitable for when Im in the middle of a field dog training, as there is no access to hand washing facilities.
So I normally lick my finger
Click to expand...

plastic ziplock sandwich bag with a damp face cloth in it. You can even cut up small face cloths into smaller pieces and have a few 'wetwipes'. Ikea do facecloths for 25p each. If you wet the cloth with just water then should be OK

They will work at getting fingers cleaner than licking them during dog training shudder
 
Thank you
Some great info there
Will try the facecloth, no more finger licking for me!
 
AS another dog owner I've always believed my my dogs lick is just as "antiseptic" as mine is - not that I'm suggesting you get yours to do any pre-pricking licking for you though! I've read about using the second squeeze but only ever do this if I can't get enough blood out the first time. I believe that different drops of blood seconds apart do normally change as your glucose levels are constantly in a state of flux.

@jack412 Graphs were interesting!

If you want something semi portable (the packs are about twice the size of a little pack), Wet Ones do an antibacterial wipe. I found mine on Amazon - I was looking
for something else to use them for.

Robbity
 
OK - but I'd be wary of licking my fingers when out with my dogs, as I might have had to do something not too hygenic like picking up (bags of) poo after them. Under normal circumstances I definitely rely on my lick to clean my fingers up before & after testing!

Robbity
 
AS another dog owner I've always believed my my dogs lick is just as "antiseptic" as mine is - not that I'm suggesting you get yours to do any pre-pricking licking for you though!

I could just Imagine it now, GSD FOR BREAKFAST, LAB FOR DINNER AND DIFFERENT GSD FOR TEA
 
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