Here’s some hints on making glucose testing easier:
Wash hands with very warm water and rinse completely and dry.
Don’t use alcohol, it just dries you skin out.
Shake the hands a bit to bring the blood flow down.
Only use the side of the fingers, never the tip, to test with. Start with the lowest lancet setting and adjust higher until you find the right depth for you.
You can squeeze very gently, but not too hard because it can contaminate the blood and invalidate the reading. It is important not to squeeze too hard when collecting a capillary blood sample. Squeeze quite firmly, but never with enough force that it hurts! Excessive squeezing will cause haemolysis of the sample, i.e., the rupture of red blood cells, thus releasing their content into the plasma. Tissue fluid may also contaminate the blood sample if you squeeze too hard.
If you have trouble with not enough blood for the sample wrap a rubber band around the first joint which will pool the blood at the tip and make it easier. Don’t forget to remove it after the test.
Blot when done, it should stop bleeding in a very short time.
Lizzy
© EMO 3/12
Knowledge is Power
When I was diagnosed, close to 11 years ago, I was told “you are diabetic”, given a prescription for some medication, and told to wait for a nurse to come in and give me an insulin shot. When I picked up the prescription I was given a 10-page booklet telling me “All About How to Mange Diabetes”, and sent on my way. That was the extent of my “education”. 
Thanks for all your help. I am new. You have answered so many of my questions.
Do I test 1st thing in the morning before I take any medicine?
I understand now:
Test 1 hour after last bite of food or 2 hours after 1st bite.
And you made the “Readings” more clear.
Thanks again, lynne
Thank you so much for all this useful information! Blood makes me squeamish. I was wondering if you now anything about urine glucose testing. Does anybody use this method? Are there advantages/dis-advantages?
Thanks!
Hi DB,
Urine testing is a blast from the past and was before today’s meters. It wasn’t very accurate, you could only see if your numbers were higher than 180. Meter testing is a great improvement and doesn’t really hurt.
Suck it up and draw that blood (watch some Twilight movies first).
Lizzy
I see. Is 180 too high of a threshold? Do I need to know if my value is below 180? Is accuracy the biggest issue, because I really don’t like the idea of pricking myself.
Thanks!
DB I’d suggest you do some further reading on the blog, start with this:
http://lizzysdlounge.com/2012/08/31/why-test/#more-732
Then read this:
http://lizzysdlounge.com/2012/04/14/getting-started/
Lizzy
I was just diagnbosed with diabetes 3 days ago, and I was on the web and trying to get as much info as possible and came across this website, I think it is a great website, I just started taking the pills, those that begin with M, however my Doctor wants me to go a four week diabetic class at a hospital starting next Tuesday and to get the meter that day and bring it with me, they can show me how to use it. I am very much in denial because right now all I am doing is taking a pill right before meals, but I am scared to death, and I know when I get the meter and have to use it, I will be really afraid, anyway I have not told my family yet, esp. my kid sister whom is very close and near and dear to my heart, I really do not want to tell anyone, but I go my sisters house sometimes and spend a nite or two there, is the meter small enough so I sneak it and go in the bathroom and do it???? Will it fit in a purse?????? And why am I so afraid of this and why do I not want to tell my sister??? I really would like not to tell anyone, what do you advise?? Any help you can give me I would appreciate it
Hi Louise,
Do you think getting diabetes is your fault? Is that why you don’t want to tell anyone?
I can tell you that type-2 has a large genetic factor, and no matter what weight you are or what you ate in the past if you didn’t have the genetic marker for it you would not have developed it. This is a guilt trip that society, and yes even the medical profession, lays on people and it’s completely untrue and unfair. Being overweight does NOT cause diabetes, although losing weight if needed will help control it. I’ve actually had people fight me about this because they’re so convinced it’s all their fault. The real fact is that developing diabetes can cause weight gain!
You really do have to tell someone because if you get sick you could be treated wrong if they don’t know, for instance given glucose when you don’t need it and which will spike your numbers.
Some classes are pretty good and some not so much. At worst they treat everyone as though they are the same with the same needs while every person’s diabetes is different. They also usually advise way too many carbs for most people to eat without having really high numbers and having to take a large amount of medication. Regarding testing they don’t advise nearly enough for new people or teach them what a powerful tool it is for them.
Look around this site and you’ll find a free education. I address most issues of concern for new people and use straight talk that’s easy to understand.
Lizzy
I’ve heard that you can also test on the top of your arm between your wrist and elbow. Have you head of this? If so is the reading just as accurate?
Those commercials really get me when they advertise “no more painful finger testing” because if you do it correctly it really doesn’t hurt. Readings from anywhere other than the fingers are not as accurate Randee, so if accuracy is what you want the fingers are the place.
Lizzy
Good to know thank you for clearing that up for me!
could you elaborate on what brands you have found that are better? Id love to reduce the discomfort of those sticks!
Which brands of what Michelle, lancets?
Have you tried the “Tearless Testing” method? http://lizzysdlounge.com/2012/03/18/tearless-testing/
Lizzy
Hi, Lizzy
I always use the lower lancet setting and try to take a deep breath and relax, but it always hurts. One time as an experiment I just jabbed my finger with the needle on the lancet, didn’t use the device and it barely hurt at all. I don’t understand why somebody can’t come up with a better method. Injecting insulin doesn’t bother me at all, just the testing. Thanks for your site. It’s great.
Cindy
Cindy if stabbing your finger with the needle hurt less you need a new device. Try a different brand because it certainly shouldn’t hurt that much on the lowest levels.
I’ve also found that cheaper lancets hurt like he$$ too. Since they don’t cost that much I stick with the more expensive brands which are still very reasonable in cost.
Lizzy