Where do poke yourself for testing?

Hello all,
I've been testing my levels for over a year now. I got some good advice to test on the sides of my fingers. I've been doing that, rotating my fingers.
My question is, for those veterans, where do you test? Do you think that over the years, all of this poking is going to mess up my skin? Often I'll find tiny little scabs and wonder if over time I'll get something like scar tissue.
Thanks for your replies!

Whoooaaaa... I never would have thought to poke there! Do you find it's pretty painful or is it okay? Thanks for the idea, I'm thinking about trying there just to mix it up.
Oddly enough, my thumbs (the sides) are the least-painful spots I get blood from. My lancet is on the lowest setting, go figure!

I will need to summon up some courage before poking myself there.
Does the poke area get tender afterwards, say when you use a computer?
Thank you for answering all of my questions, by the way.

I hate needles, and by extension, lancets!

I've read that the blood in the pads of the fingers, like Lanie is saying, is more accurate than the sides of the fingers. Don't recall exactly where I read that or what the logic behind it was.

I also find it more difficult to get enough blood for my meter when I try the sides - and it seems to stay sore longer.

So, it's the pads for me -- and I don't get scabs, and they don't bleed at all after I get enough blood! Perhaps some of that is a function of how hydrated you are and how much flesh/fat you have on your fingers? In general, I have barely enough blood for testing.

Mostly I don't feel any soreness later...

The more I read, the more I realize I know practically nothing! I never thought about the sides or the pads of the fingers. Here's an interesting blurb about fingers and testing: diabetes.sanofi.us/dear-diabetes-finger-testing/

So, although I have used my index finger, I do not use it as often as the middle, ring and pinky for testing. I don't remember if I've ever used a thumb. And - because I'm right-handed, I've tested my left hand more than my right. I do test my right hand sometimes.

Now, one thing to be aware of is that some meters give you instructions to test elsewhere on the body like your arms (and other meters only mention fingers). Does this mean not all meters have accurate readings from body parts other than fingers? Guess so. I don't even know where the instruction booklet for my meter is now. And it's really strange to write body parts... know what I mean?

haha yes, it's so .... impersonal! Body parts.

I've also read about the warm water, and holding the hand down, and 'milking' the finger to get a bead. All this knowledge and probably still wouldn't be able to get into medical school!

You know, considering how often people have to have blood drawn for whatever reason, you'd think that some innovative person could come up with a better way to draw blood. I suppose that would mean not piercing the skin but that would be impossible, right?

And for the A1c, yes, you don't have to fast because the blood test measures blood sugar for the past 90 days.

I tend to use the sides of my index or middle finger on either hand. I'll adjust the strength of the device so that I can get a drop that is just big enough after squeezing the finger a little bit. You really don't need much blood these days. It was very back when you basically covered a tiny pad with blood and you could either compare the color of the strip, or have the meter read it optically... in 2 minutes. Then only to claim you wiped the strip pad too much or something.

Speaking of advances. I thought I had read something related to non-invasive glucose meters, so I searched a little.. There already are devices that can draw blood without the use of needles. There also are non-invasive meters and monitors but I'm not so sure about how well these would work yet. One measures blood glucose from tear fluid, but requires you to place a sort of spring under your eye lid to accomplish that. Apparently Google also came up with an eye contact lens that can do the same, but they also have another patent on a device that basically shoots a micro-particle into your finger first (really now, Google). Another only requires you to place your finger on a glass surface, but it takes up to 30 seconds to get a reading. Yet another piece of technology can take a reading from your earlobe without penetrating the skin. There are stickers or patches that can perform continuous measurements. There's also research going on a breathalyzer that is supposed to give a reading based on breath acetone levels (?).

These may not be readily available, like walk-in-to-a-store-now available, but nonetheless, they are interesting, at least in that "does that actually work" kind of way... Can't see any quotes on prices and that's what it comes down to in the end anyways.

And sorry if I end up only spreading vague information or speculation. I did check a Google patent application and the university that does the research. The rest were collected from an article and I've heard of some of them before. I'm still critical until I see one of these in action and it's tested and proved working.

Post Edited (Chaul22) : 7/31/2016 1:27:18 PM (GMT-6)

Hi:

I got my first blood tester(Ames Glucometer) 30 yrs ago. I was excited since my hubby and I sometimes disagreed on the Chemstrip results. Plus I got it free from answering a newspaper ad.
I just had to try it and answer a few questions, then I owned it. They cost $250. back then.

It was suggested that I use the sides of my fingers but I eventually ended poking all of my fingers
where ever I could find a spot on each of them, even near my first knuckles. It has been 30 years after all. I use the second drop of blood if I can get one, not the first. I prefer my thumbs and pinkies. Lots of blood unless my hands are cold. I have had secondary Raynauds also for about 30 years. In the beginning I was testing 4 times a day, then years later 6 times a day. Now I test 8 - 10 a day, I'm guessing for about 6 or 7 years. All the fingers are the same accuracy-wise but the arms and palms are not near as accurate.

I'm not sure what scabs you are talking about but I do get small areas of dried skin from poking which sometimes catches on certain materials especially microfibre. I file the skin off with a clean nail file every few nights and put vaseline on them overnight to keep them feeling normal. I also use warm bean bags, holding them under warm water, rubbng them quickly, letting them hang down for a while as mentioned or holding them over a heat source for better blood flow. I did have one callous on my thumb, so I stopped using that spot and kept filing and using vaseline until it disappeared.

I don't recommend using your finger pads(as I have) since in my experience, my fingerprints are wrecked(okay great if you're a criminal :) ) plus the grips on my fingers are pretty well gone, so it's hard to hang on to things as easily. Mind you I've tested a lot, as mentioned. I'm still waiting for that
non-invasive testing system.......or a cure. :)

Ya, I hope that Will is doing okay. He seemed happy with his pump, far as I recall.
Will still has to test his blood sugar by using a blood glucose meter. A pump is another
type of insulin delivery system that you change the infusion site every 2 - 3 days, so you
do not need to inject as frequently.

The Continuous Glucose Monitor System(CGMS) is the device used to test blood glucose.
You still need to test with a meter but not as often as before since they have gotten
somewhat more accurate. There is still a delay though. The needle is injected into the
body and stays there for a week. You can look at it anytime to see what your blood
glucose is and whether it is rising or falling. Cool! Many Diabetics restart it to make it
last for 2 weeks since the sensors cost quite a bit.

You are right, that a few newer pumps are combined with the CGMS. I do not know if
Will has that type of pump.

Oh goodness Lanie, I'm not sure what you mean by average, lots of Diabetics have had
glucose meters as long as I have, some even longer. We are living a longer life now
because of the net, devices, carb counting and understanding Diabetes and how it affects
us much better. Dr. Bernstein had a home glucose testing meter back in 1969, I believe.
He was able to get it because of his wife. Lucky ducky! I started with the urine tests in
1961, the Chemstrips in 1979, then the Glucose meter in 1987(although it took 2 minutes
for the result).

And this is why you should carry glucose tablets with you! I hope the people you work with know that you're diabetic just in case you "flatline" on the floor! omg

cookies, even super-sweet ones, are mostly complex carbs. These are digested and metabolized by your body much more slowly than simple carbs such as glucose or other sugars. Thus the preference for glucose tablets or, if you don't have that, fruit juice or hard candy.

Ah! Right. Now I'm wondering if those monitors are worth having.