Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kathyann on February 1, 2010 at 9:08pm

I was also told not to use my thumbs. I usually prick my pinkies and ring fingers the most.

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Permalink Reply by Julie Ann h on February 1, 2010 at 9:15pm

I never prick my index fingers or my thumbs! So, it's normal behavior for me.

For about ten years, I kept my baby fingers (pinkies) untouched, but as my daily pricking trended toward 8-14 pricks a day, I had to bring my little babies into the mix. (I actually felt sorry for them, and I still do!) I've relied on 6 fingers to carry the responsibility. When I was in high school I used to also prick my ear lobes. Ear lobes work great because they almost never hurt and almost always give a huge drop of blood. However, earlobes bruise easily and I often found it hard to stop the bleeding. So walking around with cotton balls stuck to my ears and lobes bruised enough to cause people to ask about them kind of turned me off from using them.

I've used my forearms now and then, but truthfully it's so automatic, that by the time I remember I have the option to prick elsewhere, I've already pricked one of my trusted 6 (fingers).

Speaking of "automatic" do you ever go through the motions of pricking, etc. and then realize you've put your meter away without really looking to see what the reading was? I do that occasionally - crazy!

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Permalink Reply by Brian Piccolo on February 1, 2010 at 9:57pm

I don't think it is which finger rather where on the finger that has always plagued me. There are always the sore parts because of nerve endings that are the devil.

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Permalink Reply by Pilcrow on February 1, 2010 at 11:24pm

i don't use my thumbs, i was taught how to once but i find it more awkward than my fingers, so i just stick to the latter. people who lance the finger pads are crazy! it hurts like hell, stick to the sides of the pad people, way, way less nerve endings.

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Permalink Reply by Abby on February 3, 2010 at 12:06pm

I avoid using my index fingers and thumbs too, I also only use to side of my fingers, not right in the centre.

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Permalink Reply by Osob on February 3, 2010 at 12:16pm

I avoid them all together as the thumbs have a vain and I cant remember the reason as to why they told us to not use the index finger during the course I done to learn carbohydrate counting,so I use only the other 6 fingers.

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Permalink Reply by Jennie on February 3, 2010 at 2:34pm

I prefer middle finger especially on left hand, but do use all fingers except for thumbs and index fingers. Not because thumb or index finger hurts, but they're just in the wrong place in a way. I have tried all fingers...

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Permalink Reply by Ryan on March 14, 2010 at 11:52am

i'm shamless i only use the middle and ring fingers on my left hand

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Permalink Reply by Sophie on March 14, 2010 at 11:58am

Im the same! Except I use my right hand aswell. My poor 4 fingers have been used continously for 9 years now oops

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Permalink Reply by Ryan on March 14, 2010 at 12:46pm

haha nice, yeah my two fingers have been getting pretty worked over the past few years!

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Permalink Reply by Cathy Jacobson on March 14, 2010 at 11:59am

I have started using the muscle that is near my thumb, it doesn't hurt as much, and I get what I need. But I do avoid my index fingers, pinky and thumb...These don't seem to give me the sample I want.

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Permalink Reply by catlover on March 14, 2010 at 12:10pm

I use 8 of my fingers ( not the thumbs) and I use 1 finger a day. This way they get 7 days rest between prickings. I also try to prick on the sides of the finger not on the pad, it hurts less and I can get more blood. When I have trouble getting enough blood, I usually change the lancet because it is probably dull.

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