Lancet Marks???

[Sherrielee]

I have been testing about 6 times a day for almost 3 weeks and am developing a lot of red spots on my thighs and left arm. (Sometimes I have to use the lancet 2-3 times to get enough for the strip!) What can I use to make them go away faster? I realize that once I am stablized at a normal level, I can test less often...but meanwhile I may have to be in a swimsuit soon. Any advice will be very welcome.

I am eating almost exactly the same thing everyday...well within Dr Bernstein's guidelines. The constant testing is very supportive to me, as the BGL gets lower almoost daily.

Lisa - THANK YOU so much for your wonderful advice.

[Lisa N]

Unfortunately, I don't think there's really any way to make the marks go away any faster.
Dr. Bernstein's book has a lot of good tips on testing and how to make it less painful such as not using the alcohol wipes and making sure that your lancet is set deep enough to get you a sufficient sample the first time you poke. It also helps to make sure that the site you plan to test is warm and has good circulation; if you are testing on an arm or your fingers, let your arm hang down for a minute or so before testing or run warm water over the site first (make sure you dry well before sampling!).
You can also try testing from sites that won't be quite so visible when you wear shorts, short sleeves or a bathing suit.

HTH!

[Sherrielee]

Hi Lisa! Thanks for your speedy reply!

I set the lancet at 4...it was on 2 (no wonder). Also, I am using it really high on the hip. Someplace on the internet, I saw that Neosporin may help the marks...so I got some....will report on the results!

Those test strips are really pricey! Is there a website that sells them for less? I am buying them at Costco for $68.00 for 100.

When I am diagnosed, will some of the cost be covered my insurance?

[c6h6o3]

Some will pay part or all of it, and some won't pay any. Some will only pay for strips used by meters they supply. Since they're not a prescription item, it gives the insurance companies a ready-made excuse not to pay for them.

Trick to try: Have your doctor prescribe your particular brand. Sometimes if the doctor certifies that you need a particular kind they'll pay for at least part of it whereas otherwise they wouldn't. I did this with one insurance company who had told me to get lost when I tried to file a claim for Freestyle test strips. After the doctor prescribed that particular brand, they reimbursed me for half. Not ideal, but something.

[Debi Warne]

As for the price being covered by insurance -- several insurances I know of do not cover the cost of supplies -- bummer.

One I knew of you had to get your doctor to write you a prescription for the supplies and then you purchased and sent in the slip you get from the pharmacy.

If you have your insurance book handy you might can look it up in their benefits or maybe go to their website if they have one.

Also for testing -- do you move areas around? Like from left to right side? I test my fingers and do the two longest and thumb, inside and out (not on top -- ouch!). They can toughen up after some time. I've never changed over to the arm stick -- just curious.

[Oldsalty]

Some strips use a lot less blood to get a reading, I traded in one meter to get a "one touch ultra" and that uses much less blood than the previous one that I had. Also it "sucks" the blood in rather than having to place the drop onto the test strip.

Ed

[Sherrielee]

I figured the insurance companies would find a way to wiggle out of paying. They probably wouldn't care to see someone going through 180 strips a month, anyway...probably wouldn't see the "need".

Ed - I bought the Freestyle because I thought it was the best, but I would be willing to switch, if it meant easier testing!. I believe someone on this board highly recommended the Freestyle and I liked the idea of not having to use my fingers. I will not be testing as often once my BG is stablized under 110....hoping that will happen soon...

But, I did see this commercial where this woman is watching TV with her arm around her daughter. She picks up a meter and seems to test herself with one hand (they don't show the details). It's called an Accue Check "something". Anyone heard of these? I think the strips are in the machine.

Wish they would develop that wristband that is suppose to measure BG in your persperation....maybe one day soo!

[Lisa N]

I think it depends on the laws of the state that you live in. In Michigan, we have legislation referred to by my company as "the diabetes mandate" that requires insurance companies to cover the cost of blood sugar monitors, test strips, insulin and other testing supplies such as lancets and alcohol wipes for those with a diagnosis of diabetes even if the subscriber's policy doesn't usually cover those items. The number of test strips covered each month depends on if you are an insulin dependent diabetic or not.
Check to see if your state has a similar mandate and also check with your insurance carrier as to what is and is not covered and if there is a specific supplier that you must purchase your supplies from for them to be covered.

[Oldsalty]

On the one touch, the box says that it needs 1ul compared with 4ul on brand x ???

Ed

[CarolynC]

If you keep an eye out for them, you can sometimes buy strips very inexpensively over eBay.

[Jamilah]

I'm testing 4 - 6 times a day, since I'm only on this program less than 3 months. I can only use the last 2 fingers of my hands, because I examine people and feel certain those small punctures are a portal of entry for viruses and bacteria. Also the one for the arm makes me look like a drug user, and as many of my patients are same, I don't feel comfortable with that. SO, though it's tough, I tolerate the inconvenience, and stick away!

Thanks for listening...

[Sherrielee]

Hi Jamilah! Hope you can test less soon...those 4 fingers must be kind of sore. What do you use after?

I am getting much better...Practice makes perfect! I am still testing 4-5 times per day, but I am not wasting any strips (for lack of BG) and hardly ever have to stick twice. (I admit I do like the idea of using less BG., though.)

Doesn't anyone else test on their thigh/hip? I know the BGL will be different than the finger, but we are just keeping a record of flucuations...right?

Most of my "bruised" marks (from having the lancet depth improperly set) are gone!

BP is back in "tolerable range" til I see the doctor (150/88). All I did was quit my nigtly "cocktail hour" with the DH....can't believe that 2-3 Scotch's could make BP that high...but it obviously can! Oh well...I will lose weight faster too. I know that is what was stalling me!! Lost 5 lbs in 3 days with no alcohol. I'm a believer!

[MsTCB]

I've been testing my blood 4 times a day for the past 7 years and I've never even heard of getting a blood sample from your thigh or arms. I've only used my fingertips and I have no lancet marks.

It's important to use alcohol to clean the finger tip before and after you test. It cuts down on bacteria and prevents any marks or soreness.

I can understand that if you are trying to penetrate skin on your thighs and arms to use for testing that it would defintely take several "sticks" to get enough for a sample.

I suggest using just your fingertips. The skin is thin and the blood is very ample. I set mine on "2" and it doesn't even hurt.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[Lisa N]

It's important to use alcohol to clean the finger tip before and after you test. It cuts down on bacteria and prevents any marks or soreness.

I hate to disagree and of course everyone is welcome to keep using the alcohol if they are more comfortable with that, but Dr. Bernstein discourages it. It doesn't necessarily cut down on the soreness afterwards, makes it sting more and contributes to the buildup of callouses on your fingers. If you're worried about bacteria, using an antibacterial soap prior to testing will take care of that problem.
The two biggest factors for sore fingers in myself are a) a dull lancet (you can re-use them, but after 3 or 4 uses, they start to get dull) and b) having the autolet set too deep.

[MsTCB]

Wow!
I didn't know that about alcohol. Thanks!
I'm gonna stop using it right away and switch to
the antibacterial soap.

[kjturner]

I've got a Therasense meter. No finger prick with that one. I type all day so I can't have sore fingers.
My insurance pays for 200 strips/month--all I pay is a copay of $14. Just FYI.

[c6h6o3]

I once had a plan where they would pay for all AccuChek strips and supplied me with the meter, but I couldn't use it. All I could get out of them for a Therasense Freestyle was 1/2.

I'll soon be changing employers and will have six different plans to choose from. Which do you have? I use a Freestyle meter.

Jim

[nopie]

I posted under another subject about a free mag at Walgreens - Diabetes & you. It has a camparison chart of most BG meters. I tells how much memory they have, time for the test to work, blood sample size, and features and comments. Would probably be very helpful to anyone looking for a new meter. Unfortunately it doesn't mention price of the meter or the strips. If you don't have insurance to cover the cost, you need to go with a meter that has the least expensive strips.
I use an Accu-Chek Active and have been very pleased with it. It uses a small blood sample and gives results in 5 seconds. The strips are also less expensive than some. (this is the one that my insurance will pay for). The meter also allows you to test on your arm but I haven't tried that as the blood sample needed is so small that a light finger prick does the job.

[alaskaman]

Don't know how you feel about aspirin therapy, but I find that when I am taking aspirin, it is MUCH easier to get a good drop of blood. Thinner, less clotty, etc. I guess that's why it supposedly protects against heart attacks. Give it a try, if you feel like it.

[JJHend]

Just my 2 cents on the testing area... I test on the side of my finger by my nails, never on my fingertips. I type all day too ( I am a Sr. Claims examiner for one of those evil insurance companies) and I have never had a problem with sore fingers. Also, you have 20 testing sites to rotate through and you can always go higher or lower along the side of your nail the next time. The skin is thin and it is usually easy to get a good sample. I have my lancet thingy set on one.
As far as getting your insurance to pay for supplies... if you don't have any kind of DME/supply benefit, see if you have any kind of preventative medicine benefit. I don't deal with pharmacy issues but I've seen some diabetes supplies get through there. My doctor writes an RX for my supplies just like he does for my metformin. Its a necessity for me!

[kjturner]

I make sure to drink a very large glass of water about 10 mins. before I test. Blood comes out a lot better when it's watered down a bit!

[lowcarbtri]

I'm a newbie here, but very well versed in finger poking, as my 9 year old has Type 1 Diabetes.

I saw the posts above, and a couple of observations:

1. No need to alcohol swab the site before finger poke, just a good washing. Injections are a different story, alcohol....

2. The One Touch Ultra allows for forearm poke (a la BB King), with their adapter.

3. It's a good idea to "massage" the site prior to sticking, as that will bring a good blood supply in...

Hope that helps some. I'm just cruising the boards as a newbie. I am usually on the Scwarzbein board, as that is the program I follow.

Thanks,
Ken

[lowcarbtri]

...I forgot.

Be SURE to rotate sites. We use the odd and even days of the month for left and right, respectively. We also make sure to rotate fingers and do the poke on the SIDE of the fingertip, a lot less painful...

Ken