Does squeezing your finger affect your BG reading?

[ian1968]

If you have to squeeze your finger to get a decent globule of blood, does that affect your BG rating? I've been finding recently that I don't get much blood coming out when I finger test, and I have to really squeeze a blood drop out. I usually test 4s and 5s, but I just tested 6.3 and I'm worried that I've come off the straight and narrow somehow.

 

[dawnmc]

What number have you got your lance on? Do you need to replace it?

 

[Emmerdale]

Hi,I have the same problem,I can cure it most times by putting my hand in warm water for a while then its not so bad,Good luck

 

[dib]

I often have this problem especially in the evenings for some reason. I have the multiclix on the deepest setting and also find that warm / hot water helps, using the area up to the first joint of the finger also seems to give up blood more easily. I have heard that if you squeeze too hard other fluids can mix with the droplet of blood, thus diluting it resulting in a false reading.
Leaving a few moments after pricking and then gentle massage of the hand / wrist / finger after immersion in hot water works for me when I hit the problem. :thumbup:

 

[Nada]

I find my little finger or thumb produce the best drops but I have to rotate as the little finger can get sore. And give your hand a shake etc before attempting.

 

[viviennem]

If you squeeze too hard and too close to the pinprick site, you can get interstadial (-stacial? not sure of spelling) in the drop, which comes from between the cells of your finger - I think! That affects he reading.

Hanging your hand down pulls the blood to your fingertips - also check your setting for the depth of the prick - my gadget has a little rotating wheel to set the depth, which sometimes gets moved as I get it in and out of the kit.

Viv 8)

 

[Mushroom]

Readings go up or down, Viv? I haven't squeezed but pulled hole open - what does that do!!

 

[viviennem]

No idea, I'm afraid. Sorry! Theoretically, diluting the blood would lower the reading, but . . . :?:

Viv 8)