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Fingers and thumbs

carty

carty

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,390
Location
Lancashire
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Probably a silly question but,Does it make a difference to the glucose reading if you take the blood sample from your finger or your thumb.The reason that I ask is that I am testing more at the moment because of trying different foods(still strugling to put on weight) I find my fingers hurt more than thumbs any ideas
CAROL
 
Not sure Carol, I never use the thumbs so couldn't honestly say although I doubt it makes any difference at all.

Nigel
 
I was told not to use my forefinger or thumb for testing. We need to keep full sensitivity in these for doing simple "opposable thumb" type stuff, as well as being able to pick up small things, or delicate work.

I have to test loads at the moment too, due to being on chemo and the ensuing erratic BS levels. Added to that, I am only allowed to test on one hand (the other is off limits forever due to lymph node removal on that side). So that leaves me with 3 finger to test on... so I go up the side of each, along the top, and then down the other side.

Been doing this for 4 months now, and it's not a problem. I do find that my little finger is the least painful and most productive for testing though.
 
Hiya, Keep rotating n I use thumbs and fingers everything! Have noticed have better blood flow on left hand than my right hand though .... ? :shock: Anna.x
 
Asking this question has just started me thinking (doesnt happen often) :lol:
Why do we use fingers and thumbs to test I know you can use alternate sites ,but for instance why not use toes or ear lobes (with help of mirror) calves or thighs?
Even my fingers are thin so I some times bruise :cry:
CAROL
 
Fingers pricking for dummies
Down to good supply of fresh blood to nerves on fingers need a good fresh supply so the tips have loads and loads of small blood vessels capillary blood from the fingers usually shows changes the fastest.
 
Thanks bowell Dummy being the word :lol: do fingers show quicker than thumbs or just than other parts of anatomy and do they show the same values later?
CAROL
 
bowell said:
Fingers pricking for dummies
Down to good supply of fresh blood to nerves on fingers need a good fresh supply so the tips have loads and loads of small blood vessels capillary blood from the fingers usually shows changes the fastest.
Click to expand...

True, plus it's much easier to access and more accurate I am told.

Nigel
 
Thanks Nigel
If I was rich and brave it would be interesting to experiment taking blood from different sites just to see if there was a difference in BGs and pain :shock: but I am neither is there any one out there who is :?:
CAROL
 
carty said:
Thanks Nigel
If I was rich and brave it would be interesting to experiment taking blood from different sites just to see if there was a difference in BGs and pain :shock: but I am neither is there any one out there who is :?:
CAROL
Click to expand...

I've never used AST Carol but i have read on here that some members do, perhaps they may add a comment later.

Nigel
 
Hi Carol, just read your comment about struggling to put on weight, did you voluntarily lose weight in the beginning or is your weight coming off even after eating loads? the only reason i ask is because ive lost huge amount of weight and even though I eat I dont put weight on. losing weight started during my pregnancy and continued to drop even after birth (1 and half yrs now). At one time i just had to eat anything and put on weight, ive had many trips to the gym to keep it off and now i dont know whats happening to my body im actually quite scared, any way it would be nice to hear from you. thnx
 
Hi chocaholic I am afraid I cant really help you I lost a lot of weight before I was dx with type 2 DB The blood test taken to find out why I had lost so much weight came back with a BGs of 26.9 : I have been trying to put weight on since then but it is not easy Your GP is the best to help you and you can ask to be seen by a dietician
as I was .
carol
 
Hi carty, out of curiousity what did the dietician advise you to eat and do to increase weight gain n structure? Anna.x
 
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