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Permalink Reply by Jennifer on April 13, 2010 at 2:30pm

I also tried forearm testing. Used the correct attachment for alternate site testing that cam with my lancing device. Rubbed, smacked a little the site on my forearm I was going to test, and make sure when lancing that I held the device with pressure against my forearm until I saw a big enough droplet of blood after I activated the device. I have tried alternate site a few times, however, I seem to get many bruises when I test on my forearm, and I definitely won't do this regularly.

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Permalink Reply by Joshua Marshall on April 13, 2010 at 2:41pm

Ouch. Fingers turning purple? Do you need a new needle? I find that when the needle is dull the finger sticks can really hurt. Getting blood out of the forearm can be a pain (yes, you can laugh) and it isn't always as accurate as the finger. The other bad thing about the forearms - and the main reason I stopped alternate site testing there - is that from all the marks on the forearm after a while it looks like you're on drugs. Just another little tidbit in diabetes wonder.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah on April 13, 2010 at 2:45pm

i change my lancet alot because i thought that would help... i now think that it hurts even more with new lancets... haha... i read that you can also test on your palm... anyone tried???

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Permalink Reply by Gerri on April 13, 2010 at 3:59pm

I've had no luck using my arms either. I haven't tried this, but Dr. Bernstein says you can use the front of fingers, the first knuckle & up.

Maybe try another brand of lancing device?

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Permalink Reply by barbraann on April 13, 2010 at 4:30pm

I can't get anywhere else to work as good as finger sticks, I think I even tried my palms and that was useless if I remember right and I agree, new lancets seem to hurt more!

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Permalink Reply by Devon on April 13, 2010 at 4:51pm

I found this paragraph on WebMD... but I think it depends on your meter...
[Meters That Test Alternative Sites. Newer meters allow you to test sites other than your fingertip; these alternative testing sites include upper arm, forearm, base of the thumb, and thigh. However, testing at alternative sites may give you results that are different from the blood sugar levels obtained from the fingertip. Blood sugar levels in the fingertips show changes more quickly than those in alternative testing sites. This is especially true when your blood sugar is rapidly changing, like after a meal or after exercise. It is also important to know that if you are checking your sugar at an alternative site while you are experiencing symptoms of hypoglycemia, you should not rely on these test results.]

In my experience, the base of the thumb or palm hurts like the dickens so I try to avoid that. As for forearm testing, that's where I do it, and I test high towards my elbow. I press the lancing device down for a few seconds before I trigger the button and then maintain the pressure for a little bit until i have enough. It doesn't hurt me to do it so sometimes I do a second spot and get a little more on the strip. Now that I said that, I have no idea if it's ok to do that.... yikes.

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Permalink Reply by DiabeticRadio.com on April 13, 2010 at 5:03pm

I use alternative sites all the time.. It's important to give your fingers a rest (new lancet or not). You'll draw up the most blood from the fattiest tissue. If you are a very thin person, you may try to rub the desired area to build up circulation. Another way is to apply a warm towel on the desired (fatty) area. Remember to push the special adapter into the skin. The adapter is designed to push blood upward.

VERY IMPORTANT!!
If you choose to do alternative testing, you MUST wait at least 2 hours after a meal. If you want to test sooner, you should use your fingers. If your feeling hypo ALWAYS USE YOUR FINGER

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Permalink Reply by Jake on April 13, 2010 at 5:19pm

Also if your wearing sandals, Iv been told you can use your toes similarly to fingers, but your better off on the sides of the toes and not the pad of the toe, since its usually thicker skinned...

Also wash your hands/other site with warm water... you may have to dial down deeper/use an alt site tip... Other tip is dont jam the lancet device into your finger, thinking youll get more blood with the pressure,, dial the needle down and just hold the device on your finger or other body part, least for me if you put extra force on it while your jabbing, you get LESS blood not more... let the needle do the work..also I like the sides of my fingers not the tips..

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Permalink Reply by ConnorsMom on April 13, 2010 at 5:50pm

My son's fingers are the same way. He also favors 1 hand too. If you apply neosporin to them ,every other night at bedtime, just a tad bit it will cut down on the prick marks and the purpleness and help them heal fast.
He also washes with dove mild soap, not antibacterial since that plus the ointment is too rough for his fingers.
Alcohol pads are ROUGH on his fingers...I know the rule is to not use them...but if hes out playing and not near a sink, hell use pads.
Alternative sites are not reliable due to a complete difference in blood circulation. Faster circulation to the fingertips.
Do you test the side of your fingers or the middle...that makes a big difference too as far as the purple goes. Its not the lancets. You might need to try a different gauge of lancet also.

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Permalink Reply by Pilcrow on May 28, 2010 at 3:27am

i use my toes a lot when i'm at home, they work great! but otherwise i can never seem to get enough blood from alternative sites, with two exceptions.

the pad at the base of my thumb (the big fleshy part of your palm), which takes forever for the blood to well up, and when it does it takes even longer for it to stop bleeding, and

earlobes, these actually work really well too, but i don't do it very often because you need a mirror to be able to see what you're doing.

i still always use my fingers when i'm feeling low, because they are the benchmark for your results, but i've found that ear lobes and toes are both within about 1 mmol/l (18 mg/dl) of the readings i get from my finger tips, which is within inherit variability of the meter anyway

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