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Difficulty with lancing

3K views 11 replies 7 participants last post by  Donella 
#1 ·
I have intermittent problems with being able to produce a sufficient drop of blood for testing, with the frequency of difficulties seeming to increase of late.

I use a technique of lancing the side of a finger (usually pinky or ring), wiping away the first drop of blood with a sterile cotton ball, and then taking the measurement using the next drop to form. Generally, I’m able to accomplish this without needing to squeeze my finger and the blood clots almost immediately after the second drop forms.

However, lately when I lance my finger, I can sometimes get the first drop to form, but the blood clots too soon to form a second drop. Frequently, not even the first drop forms so it would seem the blood is clotting too quickly or I did not penetrate the skin.

The skin around my fingertips is soft and not calloused. I use fresh lancets for each reading. I use the deepest puncture setting on my lancing device. As far as lancing devices go, I have used the Bayer Microlet 2, the Accu-Chek Multiclix, and the OneTouch Delica, all with similar outcomes.

I try to make sure my hands aren’t cold, so I’ve tried running them under warm water for several minutes and running a hair dryer across them to warm them. I’m trying dangling them below my heart, shaking my hands, gently kneading my hands from the top of the palm then slightly up the finger to help the blood flow to my fingertips (although I prefer to avoid doing this due to the likelihood of increasing the blood drops concentration of interstitial fluids).

As far as I’m aware, I’ve tried the majority of the suggestions I’ve read on the internet but am still having difficulty. I’m not certain if the viscosity of blood could fluctuate that greatly from day to day, but I suppose that’s possible. Blood that thick would seem to be a serious medical condition and I’m not sure what the signs and symptoms of that might be.

Anybody have any other techniques or thoughts that could help me with this problem?

Thanks!
 
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#3 ·
Why are you wanting a second drop to test? I just puncture and give it a gentle squeeze if needed and touch it with my meter strip. Yes, cold fingers can be slower, so warming them does help.

I rarely change my lancet, by the way.

Hope this helps,
The first drop can contain contaminates from your skin which can significantly alter the results. And considering in the US a meter need only be manufatured to be accurate to within 20%, I like to keep my results as reliable as possible, especially since I have to dose insulin injections based upon it.
 
#4 ·
I have never wiped away the first drop. I think that is something nurses used to do. I also never use alcohol swabs. Some find switching lancing devices helps. Sometimes my fingers just seem more resistant to testing than others. I usually have to raise the dial to get a deeper puncture. I normally do the sides or the tops of 2 or 3 fingers. My pinkie and thumbs don't work very well so I rarely use them. I just lance and then apply a little pressure below the puncture wound. If I don't get a good blood drop I will re lance another finger. I rarely change the lancet. I wouldn't be worried about contamination.
 
#6 · (Edited)
I neveer heard of wiping off the first drop.

The meter's do have a 20% error rate (not just in the US) but that's th best technology we have right now. It's good enough, really.

I use Freestyle Lite meter. It takes a very very small amount of blood - about the size of a pin head or two. And, the meter will allow you to take the strip off the drop so you can coax out more blood and touch it again with the same strip to soak up more blood if needed.
 
#9 ·
policebox said:
As I mentioned, I can't even get one drop to come out now, let alone two. I just punched three different fingers and wasted two test strips because not enough blood would come out. AHHHH!
Have you tried a larger gage lancet?

What about using the middle of the pad of your finger? The sides hurt too much for me while the middle I feel nothing and get good flow.

Sent from my iPhone
 
#11 ·
What meter are you using. When I used a One Touch, I wasted so many strips with too small a blood drop. My countour USB requires a very small amount. I think we all have our favorite fingers and ones that don't work. Have you tried to put a little pressure under the lancing site? You can also lance your forearms using the clear plastic cap that comes with your meter. You may want to go into to your doctors office and ask the nurse to show you some techniques.

I would also consider getting a new lancing device like the Delica or one of the newer ones. I probably only change my lancet once every 4 or 5 months and get a good drop most times.
 
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