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What are the tips to easy finger pricking

D

Debbie_Mac

Member
Messages
7
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
smoking, opera and visiting the gym
Only after a week of testing my sugar levels, my fingers seem to have given up bleeding. I'm using the Gluco RX Nexus Voice and associated lancing device. It probably doesn't help that I can't see my hands which adds to the pandemonium of trying to get my finger to produce blood and then find my other hand to try and get blood on the testing strip before either my finger or the machine gives up! Any tips or tricks from experienced testers would be gratefully received. I have to use a talking device because I have no sight at all. My panic to stab myself, hope that I bleed enough for the tempremental machine and find the **** sstrip all within 3 mins must be quite entertaining to an outsider!!!
 
A
squeeze your fingers from the bottom
 
Take three deep breaths before you start and know that you can do this-especially with the great tips given to you from other members! I am having a harder time in this cold weather also but it always helps if I stop and center myself first before taking the first jab at it.
 
Resurgam said:
Putting your hand in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes will increase the blood flow, and you might need to have a bowl of cold water to stop it once you have got your reading.
Click to expand...

You should take a reading first if you can, then put your hand in the water, and take another.
You'd be surprised at the change.
 
I 'trap' blood in the top third of my finger before pricking, by capturing the top of that finger with my thumb and another finger. Works every time unless I'm absolutely freezing cold.

I maintain the squeeze as I prick - and there's a drop for testing!

 
Hi @Debbie_Mac . A few tips for finger pricking.
1. A new/ sharp lancet.
2 Correct setting on lancet device, deep enough for blood but not to deep to hit bone
3. Warm fingers, either warm water or a good vigorous rub and shake towards the ground.
4. Use sides of fingers.
5. Rotate fingers and use both sides ( a lot have favourite hand's/ fingers).
6. Occasionally give your fingers a soak in warm soapy water and give them a gentle rub with a pumice stone especially the area's you use to test.
7. Moisturise your fingers. I find cocoa butter good.
Hope this helps and I'm sure other people will offer even more advice.
 
Wish I'd done everything @therower mentions above, in my last three decades.

Put it this way: I can hoik spaghetti out of boiling water* with my fingers, the scar tissue is so thick...

Thankfully I have no trouble drawing blood when I use the method I described in my previous post!



*Don't try this at home!

(Edited for health & safety reasons)
 
I used to have a small fear of needles now I just close my eyes LOL
 
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