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Wearing My Finger Tips Out???

lucylocket61

lucylocket61

Expert
Messages
6,394
Location
Wrexham
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I heard this yesterday from my DSN, and I have read on here of others who have been told this, or something similar:

"If I keep testing my blood sugars unnecessarily now, I will wear out my finger tips and, when I really need them in years to come when I go on Insulin, I wont be able to test properly. And testing when on Insulin will be vital, but my fingers will be too numb and calloused to test there"

Is this true?????
 
Don't know about the callouses - but who says you'll be going on insulin? I don't believe it's a done deal.
 
lucylocket61 said:
I heard this yesterday from my DSN, and I have read on here of others who have been told this, or something similar:

"If I keep testing my blood sugars unnecessarily now, I will wear out my finger tips and, when I really need them in years to come when I go on Insulin, I wont be able to test properly. And testing when on Insulin will be vital, but my fingers will be too numb and calloused to test there"

Is this true?????
Click to expand...

If this were true, how would those of us with type 1 manage?

As long as you don't repeatedly use the same finger you'll be fine. I use two sides of three fingers and one side of my index fingers, giving me a total of 14 test sites. So depending on how often you test, you probably will only be using each site every other day. If you make sure your lancet is set to the correct depth, and change it occasionally, you'll be fine!
 
lucylocket61 said:
I heard this yesterday from my DSN, and I have read on here of others who have been told this, or something similar:

"If I keep testing my blood sugars unnecessarily now, I will wear out my finger tips and, when I really need them in years to come when I go on Insulin, I wont be able to test properly. And testing when on Insulin will be vital, but my fingers will be too numb and calloused to test there"

Is this true?????
Click to expand...

Ridiculous!!! How else will you know what works and what doesn't and yes how else would us T1's cope!! ( i am only 6 1/2 yrs some have been T1 for alot longer!!!! )
 
I've been sticking my fingers for over 20 years (we didn't have BM sticks in the earlier years) and haven't run out of fingers yet. If an area gets callused you can leave it for a while and it will recover. You should only use the sides of your fingers.

A good lancer with depth control helps - I've found the Accu-Chek Multiclix to be the best of many that I've tried.

Robert
 
sorry, but the intention of testing now is to avoid having to go on insulin in the first place... the better your blood sugar control now, the less likely to need insulin in the future...

anyone who tells you that you shouldn't be testing as you will only get worried needs slapping down as not knowing anything about your condition... you have a carbohydrate intolerance... therefore, you should be avoiding carbohydrates full stop...

ps... if you want to know about callouses, then you should be playing guitar... then you will really have callouses... :) the callouses I get from playing guitar are far worse than those from testing for blood glucose...
 
lucylocket61 said:
I heard this yesterday from my DSN, and I have read on here of others who have been told this, or something similar:

"If I keep testing my blood sugars unnecessarily now, I will wear out my finger tips and, when I really need them in years to come when I go on Insulin, I wont be able to test properly. And testing when on Insulin will be vital, but my fingers will be too numb and calloused to test there"

Is this true?????
Click to expand...

How can it be true? Finger tips are not used to test blood sugars :mrgreen: Perhaps educate your nurse in this matter.

As other have said testing now will stop you having to go onto insulin in the future or at least delay it for a long time and keep complications at bay.
 
I use alternative site testing - usually on my forearm. There is a slight lag in blood glucose levels compared to the fingertips so must be used with caution in some situations, such as if someone was in danger of a hypo. But for day to day monitoring of T2 it is perfectly adequate.
 
Been testing bg for the last 20+ years and don't have any problems with my fingers, you just have to remember not to use the same finger each time.
 
andrew_333 said:
I use alternative site testing - usually on my forearm. There is a slight lag in blood glucose levels compared to the fingertips so must be used with caution in some situations, such as if someone was in danger of a hypo. But for day to day monitoring of T2 it is perfectly adequate.
Click to expand...

My point was that, it's the side of the finger used not the tip. :)
 
I just think it is yet another example of silly reasons to stop T2's testing.

I am not so worried about my finger tips theoretically wearing out in 30 years time, as I am about my feet and eyes and other parts, which will definitely be affected if I dont test. The whole explanation she gave was simply nonsense. Thanks for your input people.
 
the better your blood sugar control now, the less likely to need insulin in the future...
Click to expand...
Source?
you have a carbohydrate intolerance
Click to expand...
Well, no. Intolerance is mostly used in a different sense - cf gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance, etc, and by the same logic you might call someone with a broken leg "walking intolerant"
 
I use the Accu-Check lancer as it's far easier than the SD Codefree lancer. I use every finger in rotation and I only prick the sides and I test roughly 3 times a day. I haven't developed any segs or hard skin but just once or twice when using my little fingers and the ring fingers next to them, I've had a little bruising and soreness for a very short time afterwards. So I do take care not to use the same finger twice in succession.

I'm still bashing away the the keyboard so can't be much of a problem there eh? :lol:
 
AMBrennan wrote
you have a carbohydrate intolerance

Well, no. Intolerance is mostly used in a different sense - cf gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance, etc, and by the same logic you might call someone with a broken leg "walking intolerant"
Click to expand...


Carbohydrate intolerance,
inability to properly metabolize one or more carbohydrates, as in fructose intolerance and glucose intolerance.
Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th edition. © 2009, Elsevier.

glucose intolerance inability to properly metabolize glucose, a type of carbohydrate intolerance; see diabetes mellitus.
Click to expand...
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictio ... ntolerance

Geoff
 
lucylocket61 said:
I heard this yesterday from my DSN, and I have read on here of others who have been told this, or something similar:

"If I keep testing my blood sugars unnecessarily now, I will wear out my finger tips and, when I really need them in years to come when I go on Insulin, I wont be able to test properly. And testing when on Insulin will be vital, but my fingers will be too numb and calloused to test there"

Is this true?????
Click to expand...

I have heard some ridiculous reasons why we shouldn't test, but I think this one takes the prize. We have eight fingers and 2 thumbs, each with two sides, that is 20 tests, why on earth would we wear out our fingers. As has been said, what about T1's who have been diabetic for years and years. Your DSN really does have a very active imagination.
 
I have found out what I think my DSN is getting confused with.

She seems to think that the diabetic neuropathy of the fingertips is caused by the repeated fingerpricking. Not the Diabetes.

:crazy: :crazy: :crazy:
 
Whaaaa, and she's a DNS wow, god help us all.
 
Lucy
i think it's more likely you will never need insulin if you keep control now. Anyway you can go to Alternative Site Testing. Check the leaflet with your meter for further information.
I haven't tested on my fingers for years.
Hana
 
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