Tips and tricks for measuring blood sugar

Taking a blood sample is essential for blood glucose self-monitoring. People with diabetes, therefore, regularly take blood with a lancing device. This self-control is necessary to control the disease, improve quality of life and prevent consequential damage. However, many find the blood glucose measurement painful because they mistakenly take the blood directly in the middle of the fingertip rather than on the side of the fingertip as recommended. To prevent the sensation of pain, we give you a few suggestions for blood sugar measurement and reveal tricks to make a gentle “click” out of the pricking of the fingertip on the side.

Every skin is different.

The lancet has to penetrate the top layer of skin  (upper skin, epidermis) to reach the areas in the skin with sufficient blood flow when lancing.

However, the epidermis on the hands and fingers differs from person to person and is strengthened in places by external influences, such as working in the garden or manual work. The thickness of the horny layer can vary from 0.05 to 1.0 millimetres at the fingertips due to these various influences. The underlying germ layer is between 0.1 and 0.2 millimetres thick. There are no blood vessels here either, but the first nerve endings already react to mechanical and chemical stimuli and temperature stimuli.

To reach an area with an adequate blood supply, the lancet must puncture depths between 0.15 and 1.2 millimetres as precisely as possible, thus with as little pain as possible. Because only the underlying skin layer, the so-called dermis, contains the smallest blood vessels.

Measure blood sugar correctly.

With the following recommendations for action, blood collection is accessible, and you get correct measurement results:

• Utensils: Prepare all measuring utensils such as blood glucose meter, test strips, lancing device with lancet and diary.
• Warm your hands: Before taking blood, your hands should not be too cold. Otherwise, the amount of blood that emerges is only sometimes sufficient for the measurement. Gently massage your fingers to stimulate blood circulation.
• Wash hands: Wash hands before collecting blood. Otherwise, sugar residues (e.g., from fruit ) on the fingers can simulate high blood sugar values. Also, washing your fingers with warm water will improve blood circulation. Please also make sure that your hands are well-dried. Don’t disinfect your hands. You can only use alcohol swabs in exceptional cases, for example, if you carry out work associated with dirt and it is impossible to clean your hands on site. Allow the alcohol to evaporate completely. Otherwise, alcohol and blood will mix, which can lead to incorrect measurement results.
• Massaging hands: After being stung, it often takes a while for blood to come out. Be patient and gently massage your finger from palm to fingertip. This light massage is allowed. Since hardly any tissue fluid escapes, there is no risk of falsifying measurement results. You can measure your blood sugar with the first drop of blood.

For successful self-monitoring of diabetes, the measured values ​​should also be recorded in a diabetic diary and discussed with the doctor at regular check-up appointments. They can also set individual goals with the person concerned.

blood glucose meters

People with diabetes can select their blood glucose meter according to their requirements. In addition to the classic blood pressure monitors with test strips and lancets, devices now regularly measure blood sugar using a sensor. This sensor is glued to the arm and causes a slight, non-painful puncture. The sensor must be changed approximately every two weeks.

Those affected must get good advice when choosing a device or obtain information from customer reviews. Correctly understanding the meter is critical since many measurement inaccuracies in blood glucose self-monitoring can be traced back to operating errors.

With some measuring devices, after opening a pack of test strips or sensor electrodes, the device must be calibrated by entering a code or coding strip. The measurement is then carried out amperometric ally, i.e. electrochemically, in most blood glucose meters on the market. The photometric, i.e. optical, measuring method is rare today.

When measuring, the drop of blood is either applied to a test strip or held to a measuring opening of the sensor and sucked into the measuring device through a capillary. The measuring times also vary depending on the device.

Since, in addition to the pure blood glucose meter, lancing devices, test strips, a control solution and lancets are required, there are different sets on the market whose contents differ and which can be selected as required.

 

Six tips for less painful blood collection

You can do several things to ensure that blood glucose testing is mainly painless. Here are a few little tricks that have a significant impact:

1. Draw blood from the side of the fingertip. A substantial blood supply is guaranteed, but the pain sensation is shallow.
2. Draw blood regularly from different fingers. For example, right-handed people should also prick the fingers of their right hand. The change results in fewer cornifications, which makes blood collection more complex.
3. Preferably draw the blood from the side of the fingertip of the middle, ring and little finger. The most minor injuries to the thumb and forefinger bother us because we grip often with these fingers.
4. When taking blood, press the lancing device firmly against the skin. In this way you can reduce the puncture depth and the associated pain.
5. Press the affected skin area together firmly for about 30 seconds after taking the blood. This will prevent secondary bleeding, leading to minor bruises and pain.
6. It is advisable to change the lancets of the lancing device before each blood draw.

In addition to the finger, the earlobes are, in principle, also well suited for measuring blood sugar. However, some people find it more difficult to measure themselves at this point, as you may need a mirror.

Feel-good program for the hands

Your hands are regularly “picked up” when blood is drawn. With this feel-good program, you can do something good for your hands:

• Care bath: Mix lukewarm water with a tablespoon of vegetable oil (e.g. olive or almond). Soak your hands in it for a few minutes and then dry well.
• Peeling: A peeling made from olive oil, sea salt and liquid honey refines the skin’s structure. Treat the skin with care, and do not scrub too hard.
• Hand mask: Massage your hands with a face mask, such as vitamin E, and wrap them in cling film. Remove again after the specified exposure time.