• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Help with test strips

A

Adskibullus

Member
Messages
12
Hi a newly diagnosed with type 1 and I've got a question about the proper use of the glucose testing strips that go into the machine to read my bs level.

The test strips come in a foil packet which you tear them out of but on the actual test strip there is a plastic flap over the top of the end of the strip where it sucks up the blood, am I supposed to peel this back or not? It's quite difficult to peel back and it sucks up the blood with the plastic on it. I'm worried that I've been peeling the ASIC off and this might be giving me wrong readings?

Also does anybody else struggle to get enough blood using the finger pricking tool? I have it on the highest setting but ima builder and got hands like leather and it seems to take 2 or 3 pricks to get enough blood out.

Cheers in advance
 
Hello there, I'm Jeanette Mum to Adam aged 10 who was diagnosed type 1, 9 months ago. I'm no expert but I want to tell you that when Adam was first diagnosed he used the freestyle strips with Optium Exceed BS machine and I agree they were a nightmare to use. I DO KNOW THOUGH THAT YOU NEEDEN'T PULL THE PLASTIC TAB BACK. They were so fiddly and It just made the whole process of diabetes so much worse. Anyway to cut a long story short I would advise you to enquire about getting ACCU Check BS handset and strips they are wonderful, just come in a tub with no unwrapping and when put in the machine they actually suck the blood up, magic. With regards to your fingerpricks not working we do feel for you. Adam had the same problme not been able to produce the blood especially in the mornings. Our nurse advised wash hands in warm soapy water and shake fingers downwards gently to improve circulation. Overall the ACCU check equipment is great, the website is www.accu-check.co.uk very best of luck, Jeanette and Adam Moran
 
We highly recommend the accu check machine. We got if free from the hospital, don't know if this is becase Adam is a child?
Also could you use a sharper thicker needle to draw the blood?

Best Wishes
JEANETTE
 
Hi
I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 16 months ago. I have the same meter as you but I only use it for blood ketones. You do NOT pull the plastic on the strip back.
With regard to the pricking problems, I suggest that you switch to the Abbott Freestyle Lite meter instead. This is available free from the Abbott website. It is made by the same company as your meter and they usually send them within 48 hours of ordering. It takes different strips to your one so you would need to get your prescription changed. The advantage of this meter is that it takes half as much blood as the one you are using. It then gives you a second chance to apply more blood to the strip within a minute of the first time if you didn't get enough blood on the at first. It also allows you to use blood from areas other than your fingertips eg arms, legs and palms of the hands. The skin there is usually softer and easier to prick and it also hurts less than the fingers as there aren't as many nerves. I use this meter with the Accu-Chek multiclix pricker but if you are having trouble getting enough blood then the Abbott lancets should help. They are 28 gauge so are thicker than the ones I use. The lower the number the thicker the needle and the thicker the needle the better you bleed. Make sure you change the lancet each time you prick as blunt lancets hurt more.
Hope this helps.
 
Back
Top