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Like Blood from a Stone

ardvark

Well-Known Member
Messages
90
Location
Warwickshire
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
New to this as from Tuesday just gone.
Testing my blood.
Now getting blood from my finger is like the title says.
I warm my hands (as suggested)
I have them by my side for a while (as suggested)
I massage my fingers (as suggested)
I have the tool set at the deepest setting, yet when I prick my finger I bearly have enough blood come out to fill the testing strip.
Any suggestions will be greatfully recieved.
 
Hi ardvark. I too have this problem from time to time. I have found that keeping well hydrated helps. I also found the side of my fingers is easier to draw blood. If they're not playing ball the side of my thumbs (top joint along nail length) is the place to go. I can get a drop on the lowest setting that way. Hope this helps. I'm sure others will also give you advice. Best of luck
 
I can only give you the standard advice: Wash hands in hot water (dry properly afterwards). Try the middle setting in case you are going shallower rather than deeper. Hold the end of the pricker up to your finger, don't press hard. I prick the tip of my finger in the middle of the fingerprint just a bit to the side. Sometimes I have to squeeze my finger a bit to get enough blood. Stick the end of the strip in the blob of blood. It is difficult to describe what is a sufficient amount of blood but it is not very much, maybe the size of the ball of a ballpoint pen.
 
I've also had this issue.

For me, drinking enough water is key. For the morning fasting, I drink when i go to bed, drink again when I get up to go the washroom. If I sleep through the night, I have a more difficult time the next morning.

As well, if I'm having a hard time, I soak the finger in hot water before trying to get blood. I don't put the strip in the meter (get it out of the tub first) until I have a good sized drop so I don't waste a test strip because the time expires.

I also find it slightly easily to get blood out of towards to the side of the fingers on the back of the hand (avoiding the knuckles) rather than the side of the fingers on the palm side.
 
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Can I ask which meter you are using? Some seem to need lots more blood than others..
 
Nexus Gluco Rx it was the testing kit I was given in hospital after the attack
 
ardvark said:
Nexus Gluco Rx it was the testing kit I was given in hospital after the attack
Click to expand...
Ok sorry no experience of that one.. maybe some fellow users will be along..
Are you pressing the end of the lancing device against the side of your finger?

Edit to add have you watched this

 
It also helps not to only squeeze the tip of your finger after poking, but start at your hand and squeeze up to your finger tip, rather like milking a goat.
Good luck!
 
Just tried again. After several attemps I managed to get some blood.
Could it be that my skin is too thick around the fingers?
Nurses in the hospital had no problem at all.
Perhaps the lancet is'nt going deep enough.
Is there anywhere else I could try.
ANY suggestions WILL be greatfully recieved.
 
Has your lancing device got 2 end caps? I'm just wondering if you have the correct one fitted?
Could you upload a picture including the depth setting?
 
I have a similar problem. I find that waving my arms about like a windmill helps, giving my fingers a good rub with the towel after washing, making sure my hands are as warm as I can, and "milking" my finger to squeeze from the bottom up, like milking a cow. (@Antje77 suggested that above except she said like milking a goat.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
squeeze from the bottom up, like milking a cow. (@Antje77 suggested that above except she said like milking a goat.
Click to expand...
I've never milked a cow, but I have milked a goat. I guess it's about the same I have milked a small dog too, but that's different and not at all like trying to squeeze blood from your finger.
 
We've cracked it. (well I think we have) First of all I want thank all who helped me. I can now get blood out of my stone fingers.
I wash in warm water. I keep my fingers warm. After the stab I massage the finger from knuckle to tip and hey presto blood comes out. Not a lot but enough for the machine and a lot than before. Thank you all again.


Edited by Mod
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I used to experience this after diagnosis but it became easier and easier as my diabetes got better. I put it down to improving circulation. Now I’m at risk of bleeding to death if I go any deeper than 50%

True story
 
Bluetit1802 said:
I find that waving my arms about like a windmill helps,
Click to expand...
I do that too, and the waving also helps getting the last moisture off my hands and it gives my shoulder joints some exercise.
 
If all else fails ---
Open a can of tuna fish or similar (the ones with the ring pull) !!! That always makes me bleed
Carol
 
I find that going out for a run certainly get's my blood pumping - got back yesterday from a 5km run, did a test and blood gushed out, bit messy but worked a treat
 
I find only my pinkies works well for testing. Worth trying different fingers.
 
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