Re: New Here

On 26 Mar 2006 17:36:22 -0800, "sweetmijita79@xxxxxxxxx"
<sweetmijita79@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I've bought some books and management diaries, but my problem right now
is I have a meter and have been trying to test on my arm but I can't
get enough blood. I'm a big baby about testing on my finger so I won't
do it lol. But if anyone has any tips please let me know.

Hi Nikki

Welcome.

You've had some good advice. I'll repeat two bits - first,
if you can't get those numbers down to reasonable (under
300) levels fairly soon - like today - get thee to an ER.

Second, re-read Jennifer's post. As soon as you are no
longer in immediate danger, that's the best possible advice
you can use right now.

Finally, on testing.

Please re-think using your fingers. Hopefully, this will
help:

Painless Pinpricks

Wash your hands in warm water first, and shake them to get
the circulation going. Check your lancet - it should be
adjustable. Mine is Soft-clix, made by Roche and is usually
painless. I get an occasional tiny sting, and it lets me
know if it's getting blunt sometimes, but I've tested over
4500 times in the past 4 years without any trauma. That's
from a guy who was, and is, needle-phobic.

Start with the second lowest setting (1 or 1.5), hold it
firmly against your skin on the side of a finger near the
tip. Don't flinch when you release the button. The button
releases a spring-loaded tiny needle which makes a tiny hole
in your skin and instantly retracts. Incidentally, using the
sides has two advantages - there are less nerve-ends than on
the pads, and it doubles the number of test-points so you
can rotate through the positions.

Massage gently (milking a cow) until a drop of blood forms
sufficient to put on the test strip. If this setting doesn't
provide an adequate quantity, move the lancet setting up one
notch for the next one. If you got a large sample and it
hurt a little, go to the lower setting.

And that's all there is to it. Sometimes it helps to shake
your hands a little more, or warm them up if it's cold. The
manufacturers advise changing the lancet needle every time;
I change mine when I remember or if it gets a bit blunt -
that's about once a month or every 150 tests :-) You do what
you are comfortable with.

Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia.
d&e, metformin 2x500mg
--
Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.
.