Some facilities test the first drop of blood. Others require nursing personnel to wipe away the first drop of blood with gauze, and test the second drop. The rationale for wiping away the first drop of blood is that the alcohol in the prep pad, and consequently on the fingertip, may alter values.
The first drop of blood can be used for self-monitored glucose testing, but only after washing hands. If washing hands is not possible and they are not visibly soiled or exposed to a sugar-containing product, it is acceptable to use the second drop of blood after wiping away the first drop.
(In general, guidelines advise against squeezing the finger too hard to get a blood drop because it may distort blood sugar readings.)
4. Wipe away the first drop of blood with a sterile 2×2 gauze.
The thumb has a pulse and is likely to bleed excessively. The index finger can be calloused or sensitive and the little finger does not have enough tissue to prevent hitting the bone with the lancet.
The fourth finger of the left hand, believed to possess a vein that runs securely to the heart, is the finger we here in the US wear our wedding rings on. The vein of love or more amorously called the Vena Amoris, is from ancient times and is thought to originate with Eqypt.
Choose (and clean) the best finger
The best finger to get blood from is your ring finger. When performing a finger-prick test, use the side of your ring finger. It is where circulation is at its peak, and you are more likely to collect a complete sample from this one finger.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) strongly recommends against reusing any lancet, particularly if it happens to involve more than one person.
Officially, all lancets are single use.
Although it is a good idea to change it about once a day, many diabetics do not find an issue with changing it once every 1-2 weeks. Every diabetic is different, it just depends on how much the prick bothers you! As long as no one else is using your pricker, there is no need to change it each and every time.
The dawn phenomenon is an early-morning rise in blood sugar, also called blood glucose, in people with diabetes. The dawn phenomenon leads to high levels of blood sugar, a condition called hyperglycemia. It usually happens between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m.
During the day, levels tend to be at their lowest just before meals. For most people without diabetes, blood sugar levels before meals hover around 70 to 80 mg/dL. For some people, 60 is normal; for others, 90.
The dawn phenomenon
In the early hours of the morning, hormones, including cortisol and growth hormone, signal the liver to boost the production of glucose, which provides energy that helps you wake up. This triggers beta cells in the pancreas to release insulin in order to keep blood glucose levels in check.
Act quickly! As with all stains, the sooner you deal with blood stains, the better. The first step is to sponge the area with cold water. Heat of any kind will set the stain, so the colder the water, the better.
High uric acid and low hematocrit values have been suggested to cause falsely high BG readings, thereby resulting in inappropriate therapeutic decisions.
Once your hands are warm and dry, use the lancet on the side of your “favorite” finger. This may be mostly mental, but when it's early morning and my hands are cold, using a tried-and-true finger (left little finger, for me) really helps.
Best least painful lancing devices to buy
The 30-gauge needles are strong but thin to reduce discomfort and pain. You can use this lancing device on your finger or elsewhere on the body.
A. Finger-stick blood samplers (lancet devices) are used to obtain blood for testing blood sugar (glucose). These devices consist of two parts: a “lancet holder” that looks like a small pen; and a lancet, which is the sharp point or needle that is placed in the holder. The lancets are only ever used once.
Reusing a needle or syringe puts patients in danger of contracting Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, and possibly HIV. When it is discovered that reuse of a needle or syringe has occurred, all patients who may have been affected should be notified and informed to get tested.
Can I use a lancet more than once? Lancets are for single use only due to hygienic reasons and because the needle will become dull with repeated use. Hence a new, sterile lancet should be used each time you perform a test.
Needle stick injuries can also happen at home or in the community if needles are not discarded properly. Used needles may have blood or body fluids that carry HIV, the hepatitis B virus (HBV), or the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The virus can spread to a person who gets pricked by a needle used on an infected person.
Strength of the grip and strength of the fingers are highly correlated. The contribution of the index finger is about 25% of the total force, the middle finger 35%, the ring finger 25% and 14% of the force is contributed by the pinky.
The fourth finger of the left hand, believed to possess a vein that runs securely to the heart, has traditionally been ringed. This Vein of Love, or more amorously called the Vena Amoris, 1 originated in ancient Egypt, where it was first described by Macrobius in 395–423 AD.
Conclusions: The middle finger was the most important contributor to grip strength. The next most important was the combination of the ring and little fingers.
The Heart, Pericardium, and Lung meridians are located on the palm side of the index and ring finger. The Liver, Spleen, and Stomach meridians are located on the palm side of the thumb and little finger.