same finger
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same finger
| Thu, 04-01-2004 - 11:42am |
How come you can try 3 differnt fingers at the same time and get different readings.I always wash my hand with hot water and soap before i test.
| Thu, 04-01-2004 - 11:42am |
Julie,
It has to do with the minute differences in the amount of blood being wicked into the meter. They should all be in the same range though. The other day I tested my sugar and didn't believe the reading so I tested again. The results were only 3 points apart which isn't clinically signifcant. If there is a huge variation then you need to calibrate the meter and check your technique.
But why in the world are you testing three fingers at the same time? This surely must hurt because with each poke the lancet is getting duller and duller. You really don't need to test more than once 99.9 percent of the time.
Mary Frances
cl-maryfrances40
Co-Cl Diabetes Board
Edited 4/1/2004 9:13 pm ET ET by julieh2003
Hi Michele! Though I'm not Mary Frances whom you directed your question to, I'll give you the information I was given upon my diagnosis in January from my doctor, nurse and CDE.
It is no longer recommended or necessary to use an alcohol wipe on your fingers because they are so drying. If however, you do choose to use them, you are to wait until the alcohol is completely dry before testing. Washing with warm water and soap is perfectly acceptable, being sure to dry thoroughly. I was told by the nurse who gave me my lesson on using my meter that they *are* to tell you to only use the lancet once before disposing of it, but that it's fine to use them multiple times. Of course you should use the lancet only on yourself so as not to contaminate it with someone else's blood. She said some people use the same one for up to a month. I've found I can use the same lancet for 3 days (6 tests) before it starts to get dull enough to where it's not so pain free.
Edited 4/3/2004 11:30 pm ET ET by kathi313
Julie,
That is within the normal variation you can expect and isn't significant. So now that you have done this several times you know to trust the results and not to have to do that very often.
Mary Frances
cl-maryfrances40
Co-Cl Diabetes Board
If you have washed your hands with warm soapy water for a sufficent amount of time, you really don't need the alcohol sponge and it has the potential of changing your results slightly. How long should you wash your hands? The short answer is long enough to sing the happy birthday song to yourself twice.
Other than that, I think you are using wonderful technique.
Mary Frances
cl-maryfrances40
Co-Cl Diabetes Board