Alcohol Swabs

[wsgts]

Does anyone else use Alcohol swabs before your lancet?

This morning I was out of swabs and checked my BG and is was 140, which was high for me. So I found some regular rubbing alcohol and a paper towel, and it was 108 when checked again.

Anyone else notice this? I hate packing my meter with these things.

Later,
wsgts

[Ruthxxx]

I don't have my book handy but it seems to me that Dr. B. said not to bother with swabbing the test area. I just prick, test and dab the spot with a bit of tissue (or lick it). I use the Freestyle meter which requires only a pinhead's worth of blood.

[Lisa N]

You don't need to use the alcohol wipes, but you do have to at the minimum wash your hands with soap and water, rinse well and dry completely before testing.
Dr. Bernstein doesn't recommend using the alcohol wipes because they contribute to callouses on your fingers. They also tend to make testing sting more. :p

[v-effect]

hi there,

when i was first dx'ed with type one about 7 years ago, i did the whole routine: wash hands, alcohol, etc.
Then: I realized if I were going to test the recommended 8 times a day, this was going to be time consuming, so I dropped the alcohol; finally i dropped the hand washing.
honestly, I'm getting the same numbers. I think, practically, the whole hand washing thing is a little OTT.
Just my 2 cents.

oh and: meters can actually fluctute 20 points, regardless of your OCD hand washing practices. its scary once you realize that!

[Lisa N]

It's not just about accurate numbers, although those are important as well. It's also about preventing infection. Since diabetics often have compromised circulation in the extremities (hands and feet), those are prime areas for infection to set in once the skin has been broken (as it is several times a day with frequent testing).
As far as killing bacteria and preventing infection, using soap and water is pretty much equally as effective as alcohol swabs and a lot less drying on the skin.
It's a personal choice, but I'd hate to see someone wind up with a serious infection because they thought hand washing before testing was silly and compulsive.

[v-effect]

hi there,

LISA N has a great point- sorry to have sounded so cavalier about the issue. on the whole infection/ callous question-- I find applying tea tree oil ointment to the fingertips a couple of times a week before bed works wonders. its a natural antiseptic, and it reduces callouses.