Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Susi (Ladalife) on February 17, 2011 at 5:21am

For many years I've been testing on the tops of my fingers, just in that bit where the nail is, not underneath on the pads or the sides.

I type lots and do other things that require feeling in my fingers, and I don't want calluses or painful fingers. From time to time I try on the pads, but for me, it hurts more, so I always switch back.

I change the lancet when it really hurts (and I wish there was a lower setting than 1) - maybe once every 2 months, and I'm testing 6-10 times a day. New lancets sting - not logical, I know.

If blood doesn't flow freely, I know I need to drink some water. It's often my only sign that I'm in need of fluids.

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Permalink Reply by Baby Tee on February 17, 2011 at 12:58pm

I change it when it hurts, too. The exception is when I am fine tuning insulin doses and need to check more often. When I start checking I change it once or twice a week because otherwise the edges of my fingers get really sore.

I type for a living, too, but I only test on the sides of my fingers because I was told in 1984 that the tips of your fingers have the most nerve endings. The only fingertip checks I have had are from nurses who don't let me prick myself.

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Permalink Reply by MissKitka on February 17, 2011 at 11:00am

Dear TU members,
Wow, there are many musicians here and I feel good about that. I played classical piano for 10 years but then my hormones kicked in and I learned guitar and played rock. Here is a guitar I built from scratch, even every bridge saddle, the neck and body, and even wound my own pickups with 8000 turns and 0.013 to 0.056 baritone strings.
Don

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Permalink Reply by BadMoonT2 on February 17, 2011 at 2:19pm

Beautiful work and I'll bet it plays just as good as it sounds.

My Tele is just a made in Mexico model but I redid all the electronics. I put a five way switch on it. The extra 2 positions put my pickups in series instead of the usual parallel which gives me a little extra output and sustain ala a humbucker. Also Lindy Fralin pickups, quality caps and pots, and a graphite bridge. Topped it off with an abalone pickguard I got on Ebay.

Too bad we are so spread apart geographically an all diabetes jam session would be a hoot.

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Permalink Reply by Pastelpainter on February 17, 2011 at 12:09pm

I paint, and like most painters I know I use my fingers to apply paint, to smudge and for lots of reasons. I worried that I might get an infection from the paint. My DE assured me that the hole I stabbed heals instantly, I am still not sure. Ok, I know I should wear plastic gloves to play with paint, but I can never find a glove when I want one!

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Permalink Reply by Nearing40years on March 21, 2011 at 5:57pm

I use the lancet until it sticks in my finger, indicating either dullness or bent. I have no idea how many times I stick with it. I noticed most people answering set their lancet device to the lowest level. MIne is set as high as it can go. I have callouses and little black marks on 6 of my fingers. I just clip the callouses off when they get thick. I am unable to use alternate sights because of frequent lows and because using my arm made my arm ITCH! Like crazy, for two or three days. I guess I have just gotten used to the finger sticks. Typing is fine, as is most hand work. Opening jars and prying lids hurts sometimes.

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Permalink Reply by _julie_ on March 21, 2011 at 6:19pm

You have just reminded me that it's time to change my stabber. I can't remember the last time I did it. It's been a few months.

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Permalink Reply by LaGuitariste on March 21, 2011 at 6:26pm

Oh my goodness, all this lancet reuse makes me dizzy. (Hangs head between knees...)

I use a fresh lancet every time. Just wanted to put that out to the universe in case there is another diabetic on earth who uses a fresh lancet each time and they felt lonely.

My guitar fingers are so precious to me (not really to anyone else) that I pamper them with a sharp, burr-free, sterile lancet with every poke.

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Permalink Reply by Leah D. Rogers on March 21, 2011 at 7:25pm

Too funny how the lancet question turned musical....I love it! Is there a "musical" group within Tu? If not then there should be.

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