BG Testing Techniques

            “I don’t want to prick my finger!” Who would? But if blood sugar testing needs to be done, there are ways to minimize the discomfort.

            First, select the meter (within your price range) that uses the smallest sample size of blood. Meters vary greatly in the amount of blood required. Most of the new meters don’t need a whole drop of blood. Many only need a “speck” about the size of the head of a pin.

            Second, select your lancing device and lancet carefully. Lancing devices should be adjustable as far as the depth of the “stick”. Lancets come in different gauges. A larger gauge number means a finer point on the lancet.

            Use a fine lancet and then set your lancing device to the lowest depth you need to get a blood sample. If you don’t know the size of your lancet, just ask the sales person.

            Third, use the lancing devise on the right part of your finger. Not on the tip. Not on the pad. Not too close to a nail. Get the sample from the side of your finger, between the pad and the edge of the nail.  The tips and pads of a finger are generally the most sensitive spots. Good spots to avoid.

            I’ve seen people follow all the guidelines listed above and still not get enough blood to do a test. Before they dial-up the depth on their lancing devices, I give them a few more tricks to try.  (See the next post to learn these tricks.)