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Drawing Blood Doesn't Have To Hurt
Sticking your finger to obtain a drop of blood takes a little getting used to. It's not fun, but it can be bearable with the proper devices and technique. Lancets, mounted needles that stick the finger, and lancing devices, which help guide the lancets, are designed to make drawing blood for self blood glucose monitoring as easy and as painless as possible. Some glucose testing kits come with lancets, but there is also a range of lancets and lancing devices on the market. Since youngsters usually do their own testing, it's important that they have a say in deciding which products they find comfortable and easy to handle. Automatic lancing devices make the sticking process less painful and more efficient by offering uniform penetration. They draw blood quickly and reliably.
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What Are They For?
One of the unpleasant realities of diabetes is the requirement that you stick yourself with a needle several times a day -- either to draw blood for a sample or to inject insulin. Fortunately, there are devices designed to make the task easier, quicker, and less uncomfortable.
- A lancet is a sterile, short needle mounted on a plastic base. Lancets can be inserted into lancing devices.
- Lancing devices are spring-loaded, pen-like contraptions that aid in delivering fast and uniform sticks.
Choosing and Using Lancets and Lancing Devices
- Lancets and lancing devices are available at most pharmacies and drugstores.
- Lancing devices differ. Be sure to find the one that is the most comfortable for you.
- Make sure the lancets you purchase are compatible with your lancing device.
- Some individuals, after much practice, are able to stick themselves with just the lancet. This is more cost-effective and convenient but can be difficult.
- Make sure the device you choose is capable of producing the amount of blood required by your particular blood glucose meter.
- Some lancing devices can automatically reset at the touch of a button if you need to stick again.
- Most lancing devices offer two settings. Because you may need to stick deeper than you expect, make sure your lancing device is capable of penetrating your skin sufficiently.
- Lancets are not sterile after the first use.
- When it comes to diabetic children, make sure they have a voice in choosing a lancing device. Ultimately, children should be taught to lance themselves so that they are comfortable checking their blood sugar on their own.
- Each state and country has specific and distinct laws regarding the disposal of biohazardous waste. Educate yourself about the law and follow closely.
Never Share Equipment
- Never share diabetic equipment that penetrates your skin or comes into contact with bodily fluids such as blood or saliva (e.g. syringes, auto injectors, catheters, glucose monitors, lancets).
- This reduces the chance of transmitting and/or contracting any infectious disease such as HIV, hepatitis, or syphilis.
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Using a Lancet/Lancing Device
- Lancets are inserted into lancing devices to aid in fast, less painful, uniform sticking.
- Lancets can be used alone, without a lancing device.
Mechanics of the Lancet/Lancing Device
- Lancing devices are pen-shaped.
- A spring in the interior of the lancing device is released at the push of the trigger button.
- The force of the spring carries the lancet forward at considerable speed, causing it to stick the skin quickly, with the same penetration every time.
Before Sticking
- To wash or not to wash your hands? Studies have been done that indicate no difference in the instance of infection between individuals who wash before sticking versus those who don't.
- If hands are excessively dirty or infected, wash them.
- If you do decide to wash your hands prior to sticking, remember to dry your hands completely. Excess water can dilute your blood sample.
- Make sure your lancing device is fitted with a sterile lancet.
- Be sure to have your testing strips nearby so that you can place the droplet on the strip immediately.
- There are a number of ways to prepare your hands and fingers so that you get the maximum amount of blood flowing in them:
-Running warm water over your hands stimulates circulation to your fingers.
-Swing your arm in a circle so blood can pool in your hands.
-Hold your hands below your waistline and shake them vigorously.
-In extreme situations, you can use a rubber band as a tourniquet. Just remember to remove it once you have collected your sample! - Alternate fingers to prevent soreness.
How to Lance
- Place the lancing device next to the skin.
- Depress the button or release the lever.
- Collect the sample immediately.
- If your lancing device has a cap, recap it immediately.
- Important: Dispose of the lancet properly! Used lancets are considered a biohazard.
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Use Caution When Disposing of Lancets
- Important: Dispose of used lancets properly! They are considered biohazardous material.
- Each state and country has specific laws regarding the disposal of biohazardous waste. Educate yourself about the law and follow closely.
- Save someone from unnecessary worry and injury! Dispose of your lancets in hard-sided containers that cannot be penetrated by lancets.
- Always keep lancets and lancing devices out of reach of small children.
- Lancets in particular are small enough to be swallowed by small children, so please dispose of them immediately.
Hypoglycemia Happens
Hypoglycemia, low blood sugar, may occur if you have diabetes. Don't immediately blame yourself for episodes of hypoglycemia; in managing your diabetes, you are attempting to control a very complex, intricate, and inconsistent system. Hypoglycemic episodes can be avoided with proper diet, exercise, and dose of medication. If you are experiencing hypoglycemic episodes, contact your healthcare provider to see how you can avoid hypoglycemia.
Generally, if your blood sugar drops below 50 to 55 mg/dl, you are considered hypoglycemic. Before you decide to treat your hypoglycemia with glucose tabs, gels, or other sugars, take (if possible) a blood glucose test to determine how much sugar you need. Symptoms will vary from person to person, but here are some hypoglycemia warning signs to watch out for:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Excessive sweating
- Muscle tremors (shakiness)
- Anxiety
- Hunger that can be extreme
- Irritability
- Vertigo
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Confusion
- Convulsions in extreme cases.
- Unconsciousness in extreme cases
- Lethargy
- Fatigue
Hypoglycemia Unawareness
It is possible to have hypoglycemia and not experience any of the early warning symptoms. You may experience only the mental symptoms, and none of the physical symptoms. Hypoglycemia can also be due to other medications.- Hypoglycemia unawareness was originally thought to be caused by nerve damage from living with diabetes for many years. This causes an absence of epinephrine release in response to low glucose levels.
- It is now thought that hypoglycemia unawareness may be caused by frequent episodes of low blood glucose, without pre-existing nerve damage. Episodes of hypoglycemia seem to lower the glucose levels at which epinephrine release, causing hypoglycemia without any of the physical symptoms.
- Hypoglycemia unawareness tends to affect people who control their glucose levels stringently. It also tends to affect pregnant women.
- An interesting comparison occurs in people who do control their blood sugars poorly. These people experience physical symptoms of hypoglycemia at much higher blood glucose levels than the average diabetic person.
If you have hypoglycemia unawareness, you need to consult your healthcare provider. Together you can develop a treatment regimen to ensure that you have adequate blood glucose levels and avoid situations where you might have low blood glucose. Keeping blood sugars at adequate levels to avoid hypoglycemia for days to weeks has been shown to restore sensitivity to hypoglycemia.How To Treat Hypoglycemia
- Get carbohydrates, "quick sugar", immediately. Carbohydrates can come from glucose tablets, non-diet soda, hard candy -- anything rich in sugar.
- Do not use carbohydrate sources that are also high in fat such as ice cream, chocolate, or cake. The excess fat can inhibit the absorption of carbohydrates.
- Keep your convenient glucose sources in your purse, pocket, car, or any other place that is quick and easy to access (sugar/honey packets and lifesavers are great).
- Treat hypoglycemia correctly. Do not overeat carbohydrate sources or eat too little carbohydates.
- You should consume about 10 to 15 grams of carbohydates. Look at the nutritional labeling of the products you buy to determine how much you should consume to get 10 to 15 grams of carbohydrates. Do this ahead of time, not when you are experiencing hypoglycemia, because you might be tired and not thinking clearly.
- Below are some food equivalents for 10 to 15 grams of quick sugar:
6 large jellybeans (not the tiny gourmet kind)
4 to 7 LifeSavers
2 tablespoons of raisins
2 teaspoons of table sugar or honey
6 to 8 ounces of skim milk
Half a can of soda (not diet)
Note: After consuming "quick sugar", eat a small snack such as crackers or 1/2 a sandwich to maintain blood sugar levels. - Remember that it can take up to 20 minutes before carbohydates are efficiently absorbed into your bloodstream. If after 30 minutes you still feel symptoms of hypoglycemia, take another 10 to 15 grams of carbohydrate. Repeat this process until your symptoms are gone.
- If after two attempts of consuming sugar your symptoms have not disappeared, seek medical attention.
- It may be difficult but you must resist the temptation to eat more carbohydrates. Overeating can lead to hyperglycemia.
Note: If at any time you feel you are unable to help yourself due to signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, call 911.
Educate Others
- Please educate your friends, family, and co-workers about what to do if you become unconscious.
- If you do become unconscious or so debilitated that you cannot ingest glucose tabs or food, you need glucagon, an injected drug that counteracts hypoglycemia.
- Instruct friends, family, and co-workers to take you to the hospital and/or call for an ambulance. Remind them that these are life-and-death situations.
- If you cannot receive medical attention immediately (in the case of a long ride to the hospital or a wait for an ambulance), instruct friends, family, and co-workers to place some glucose gel or cake frosting between your cheek and gums and to massage the outside of the cheek to help the gel or frosting dissolve.
- Make sure friends, family, and co-workers do not attempt to force sugar or food down your throat! You can choke!
- ALWAYS, no matter how well you manage your diabetes, carry glucose tabs, gels, or their food equivalent with you at all times and let those who are around you know exactly where they can find them.
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Websites, Organizations & Manufacturers
Sources & Further Reading
Books
- 1. American Diabetes Assocation.American Diabetes Association: Complete Guide to Diabetes. New York: Bantam Books 1996.
- 2. American Pharmaceutical Association. Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. 11th ed. Washington., D.C.: American Pharmaceutical Assocation 1996.
- 3. Fauci, Anthony S. et al. Eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th ed. New York: MacGraw Hill 1998.
- 4. Saudek, Christopher D. et al. (Baltimore: JHU Press, 1997.The Johns Hopkins Guide to Diabetes for Today and Tomorrow. Baltimore: JHU Press 1997.
Find more books on health and wellness at  barnesandnoble.com.
Articles
- 1. American Diabetes Association."Buyer's guide to diabetes products '98.(Buyers Guide).". Diabetes Forecast; Vol. 51 10/1/1997.
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