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Type 2 Hot or cold water

bigjim19

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,960
Location
edinburgh
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
a lot of food im supposed to eat yuk
Just a quick one do you wash your Hands in hot or cold water before you prick your finger for a reading ?

And does it matter ?
 
I don't wash my hands before testing, unless I've been handling food or when I get an unexpected result. But having warm hands helps the blood flow, so if you're having trouble getting a drop of blood, warm water can make things easier.
It's also easier to dry your hands after washing with warm water
 
Thought the whole idea to get a correct reading was to wash any hidden dirt or whatever was there off
 
My DN told me to just wipe away the first drop and use the second, unless when having reason to expect something to be on my fingers. Judging from your profile picture, you might have children. If so, that means a lot more foodstuff going through your hands than in my life living alone.

Before I used the Freestyle Libre I tested an average of 11 times a day, not practical to wash your hands every time, although some do.

Being a T1 on insulin, I get hypo's from time to time, and I don't think it would be wise to navigate the stairs while hypo to wash my hands before testing!

But washing hands before testing is perfectly fine, and it definitely reduces the chance of getting an off reading!
 
From your link: 'It’s easier to get a drop of blood if your hands are warm. So, just before you test, wash them with warm water or give your hands a shake to warm them up.' So there you have your answer
 
Do you notice a difference in readings if water is hot or cold

Edited by moderator
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Caprock94 said:
I give mine a quick wash in cold water. As others have said, I don' think it makes any difference.
Click to expand...

I did mine a couple of times lately in cold then hot water and within the time I takes to change lancet and strip I found the cold water almost 1.0 of a difference less

Thoughts ?

Sorry maybe me with to much time on my hands
 
bigjim19 said:
I did mine a couple of times lately in cold then hot water and within the time I takes to change lancet and strip I found the cold water almost 1.0 of a difference less

Thoughts ?

Sorry maybe me with to much time on my hands
Click to expand...
Meters are not that accurate. The same drop can give different readings on the same meter.
Find what suits you hot, cold or none and don’t over think it. no reason water temperature would affect readings I can think of.

I also often don’t wash my fingers unless I know I’ve been touching stuff or I’ve had a rogue reading either.
 
It was just an experiment to see what others do

As I said to much time on my hands
 
Most of the year the water coming out of the cold tap is warm here, it's only a few weeks of the winter period you need to a dd hot water to warm it up a bit.

I do not hold with the theory of wiping the first drop of blood away either, waste of effort as far as I am concerned...
 
To be honest for the last 2 months I have been without a hot water boiler so for that time it was cold water or no water made little difference from readings obtained when water boiler was working or now since boiler was replaced on Friday last.
 
bigjim19 said:
I did mine a couple of times lately in cold then hot water and within the time I takes to change lancet and strip I found the cold water almost 1.0 of a difference less

Thoughts ?

Sorry maybe me with to much time on my hands
Click to expand...

I have no explanation for that one!
 
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