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What are the advantages of the no squeeze for blood droplet versus squeezing finger?

J

James9000

Member
Messages
11
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
I wasn't too keen to start with but I found especially not too bad taking blood glucose readings. I have a system when I wash my hands under hot water and set my Lancet at 2.5 and I don't press very hard. I normally need to give my finger squeeze. Then I heard someone here recommending it no squeeze technique. Just wondered what the advantages are? I'm reluctant because I feel I will need to use a deeper Lancet setting. But is it better to do it this way? Does it affect reading?
 
James9000 said:
I wasn't too keen to start with but I found especially not too bad taking blood glucose readings. I have a system when I wash my hands under hot water and set my Lancet at 2.5 and I don't press very hard. I normally need to give my finger squeeze. Then I heard someone here recommending it no squeeze technique. Just wondered what the advantages are? I'm reluctant because I feel I will need to use a deeper Lancet setting. But is it better to do it this way? Does it affect reading?
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Years ago I was told not to squeeze the finger, but gently stroke it until a drop of blood appears. Unfortunately I cannot remember the exact reason but it somehow gives a different reading. Use the sides of fingers.
 
A short squeeze, especially done from the palm up to your finger is no problem, this will simply push some blood out of the hole.
It can be a problem if you only squeeze the fingertip, especially if you need to squeeze hard. That way you block blood from farther down the finger and forcefully squeeze out whatever fluid is available, which will be blood diluted by other stuff, like @LivingLightly said, and this can give a false reading.
 
I found that if my fingers are toasty I bleed enough for a vampire! I tend to warm my hands on a cup as that helps.
 
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