[Diabetes-talk] Problems Drawing Blood

Mon Feb 6 10:00:25 UTC 2012

Ben,

No one ever told me that the lancing device needed to be replaced that often. What you say makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the information. 

Julie,

I find that washing my hands and messaging the finger I want to stick under warm water and drying them thoroughly helps a lot. This is good for several reasons. First it ensures that you get good blood circulation so you avoid milking your finger for blood. Secondly it softens the skin a bit and makes sticks less painful. 

Although they are a little more expensive, I like the drum based lancing devices. As a blind user I got stuck to frequently when changing lancets. Acucheck makes a great drum based system. The device costs about $20 and most insurance companies cover the cost. I get 90 days x 7 per day for $60. There are finer lancets made over seas, but in exploring these, I have great concerns with their quality control and customer service, so I personally have chosen to stick with mainstream products.

On Feb 5, 2012, at 12:56 PM, d m gina wrote:

> Oh my gosh I didn't know they only lasted six months?
> I have used the same one for quite some time, because it is my favorite one.
> So when you get lancets do you ask for another holder?
> I don't know where else you would go just to get a holder?
> 
> Original message:
>> Good Afternoon Julie:
> 
>> Actually, I do have a couple things you might try.
> 
>> 1.  Firstly, as  for the lancets, and lancing devices,  The lancets really
>> need to be changed after every use to aleviate unnecessary tearing of your
>> fingers.  Each time you use one lancet, the end bends ever so slightly so
>> the next time you try to use it, you may get a prick, but it may be just
>> enough off that the lancet will tear your skin.  You also run the risk of
>> contamination because you used it once, then again, it's like playing germ
>> warfair--russian Rulet with your fingers.  Not something I would recommend,
>> my friend.
> 
>> The next thing is that any lancing device is only affective for six months.
>> After that, pitch it and make sure you have a new one onhand.  The springs
>> are only good for so long.  I would say all the other things you're doing
>> correctly.
> 
>> Have a great day!
> 
>> Bern
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Julie Kline" <julie.kline at rochester.rr.com>
>> To: <Diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, February 04, 2012 4:05 PM
>> Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Problems drawing blood
> 
> 
>>> Good afternoon,
> 
>>> I'm kind of perplexed about a problem I am having and am not sure what to
>>> do, so I thought I'd ask since I would think other people on here have
>>> experienced this.  On Friday, my doctor increased my medicine I take
>>> because
>>> my A1C was a little high, 8.6 to be exact.  This morning while I was at
>>> the
>>> store, I ate something and then shopped afterwards for about an hour.
>>> Coming home from our shopping, I started feeling really clammy.  It was
>>> like
>>> I wasn't sure if I was hot or cold but I was sweating and feeling a little
>>> nauseous at my stomach.  I felt something else too, not quite sleepy but
>>> that's the closest thing I can think of to describe it, maybe droopy?
>>> Thinking I might have been having a sugar issue, I tried taking a sample
>>> so
>>> I could see what my reading was, and couldn't get any blood to come out.
>>> I
>>> had run my hands under hot water both times before I tested.  I also
>>> milked
>>> the finger.  Nothing worked.  I know my lancing device is set to maximum
>>> penetration at 5, and I tried 4 spots on different fingers and had no luck
>>> getting anything.  I never was able to do the sugar check, but I did eat
>>> something and the problems I experienced wore off for the most part.
> 
>>> Is there something I'm doing wrong for the sample?  Can your fingers get
>>> callused enough to where blood won't come out anymore?  I changed lancet's
>>> too thinking that the one I was using wasn't sharp enough, but to no
>>> avail.
>>> Could the spring on the lancet just wear out and I'm not getting stuck
>>> enough?  I felt the sting, but nothing at all came out.  During my last
>>> lab
>>> visit, they had a lot of difficulty drawing blood out of me then too so
>>> I'm
>>> wondering if something's going on more than the equipment failing.
> 
>>> Any ideas I could try for how to fix this and get a blood sample would be
>>> helpful.
> 
>>> Thanks.
>>> Julie
> 
> 
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> 
> 
> 
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> 
> -- 
> --Dar
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