7 tips for blood glucose testing in winter

In winter, people with diabetes often encounter situations where blood collection fails, the blood cannot be squeezed out, and the blood volume is insufficient. What to do at this time?

Tip 1: Let your arm droop for 15 seconds, then stroke the other hand from the wrist to the fingertips, or shake or rub your hands for about half a minute. When the tips of the fingertips are red, you can collect blood.

Tip 2: When washing your hands before blood collection, try to wash them with warm water. If your hands are still very cold, you can soak your hands in hot water. Prepare a basin of warm water around 40℃ and soak your palms for about 5 minutes. When your palms are red and feel warm, then It’s easy to collect blood. Some elderly people with diabetes have poor peripheral circulation. If they have difficulty collecting blood for a long time, they can ask a doctor to determine whether there is a microcirculation problem. If so, they can use some drugs to improve microcirculation under the guidance of a doctor.

Tip 3: You can choose to collect blood from the thinner skin on both sides of the fingertips of the ring finger (the finger next to the little finger), because there are rich blood vessels on both sides of the finger and less nerve endings. Not only is it less painful to collect blood in this area, but the blood volume is also high. Relatively sufficient.

Tip 4: The blood collection pen should be close to the skin and firmly attached to the fingertip before pressing the needle button. After acupuncture, if the blood volume is not enough, you can gently push the other side of your finger to let the blood overflow slowly. Do not squeeze hard, otherwise the overflowing tissue fluid will affect the blood sugar results.

Tip 5: When disinfecting with alcohol, just use a cotton swab with a small amount of alcohol. If a large amount of alcohol is applied to your fingers, the alcohol will take away heat when it evaporates, causing the temperature of your fingers to drop.

Tip 6: Choose the blood collection scale that suits you. Some people with diabetes are afraid of pain, so they prick so shallowly that no blood can be collected. At this time, you should adjust the scale and re-draw blood. If you don't want to re-draw blood, just squeeze it hard. This is not advisable, because tissue fluid will make the test inaccurate.

Tip 7: Scream. A young patient with diabetes for many years would cry out "Ah~" when he tested his blood sugar. Although he tests his blood sugar four or five times a day, this seems to be able to relieve his psychological pressure. You may wish to try it.