Less Painful BG testing, Diabetic Education

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

For years I've shared with you how painful blood testing is for me. The pain

and bruising are a major part of the reason I stopped testing, a terrible

thing to do to myself, but something that was hard for me to continue.

Testing really made my finger tips black, blue and purple and painful for

days, not hours.

Last week I had the marvelous experience of seeing a diabetes nurse named

Betty for an hour and a diabetes nutritionist named for the following

hour.

After monitoring this list and another list for type 2 diabetics for so

long, I went to the appointment thinking the nurse and nutritionist would

shame me and not have anything new to teach me. I was so afraid, but afraid

not to go, too. Besides, I'd never had any in person diabetic help except

for the brief comments of my family doctor.

My appointment was both inspirational and educational. I came home with hope

and resolve to follow the eating plan I was given and to test regularly.

After looking at my bruised fingertips, Betty asked if I'd test my blood

sugar so she could watch. She verified that the bruising was pronounced and

she hadn't seen fingertips on patients who tested once a day that looked as

damaged as mine. She did mention that I was testing too close to my finger

nails. She showed me a broader strip of skin on the sides of my fingers

which I could poke.

She also gave me alcohol wipes to use that day because there was no sink in

the room where we met. She said I shouldn't use them at home, that washing

my hands with warm to hot water with soap for at least 30 seconds was a

better way to prepare for testing. She said alcohol wasn't good to use for

several reasons but as a woman, a reason which might convince me was that

alcohol dries out the skin. I think she could tell by the way I dress that

I'm a very girly girl. She even gave me 3 samples of hand cream to take home

suggesting I use it after I test, to lift my spirits if for no other reason.

And I do love good quality hand cream with pretty scents.

I brought out the pen that goes with my new Prodigy Voice No Code meter.

She asked to look at it. When she handed it back, the cap was off. I asked

where it was and she couldn't find it. We all stood up, she checked the

folds of my full skirt. She searched under the table and chairs, but could

not find that cap.

She asked if I'd try a different pen and of course I agreed. It's called the

One Touch Delica. After she oriented me to how the pen works, bracing myself

for a the usual powerful sting, I pushed the button. To my shock, it barely

hurt. I didn't flinch. My fingertip didn't throb afterward.

The Delica pen is more the size of a tube of lipstick than long and thin

like a writing pen. It doesn't jerk as the other two pens I've used. Betty

told me it was developed after much research to not jerk or slam into the

finger but to slide in gently.

On the pen that came with my Prodigy, the button to push to pop the needle

into the skin was so delicate I sometimes pressed it without meaning to. The

delica has an eject button, too.

I got no audio or braille instructions with my Prodigy pen and meter, so I

was guessing about how to use it. With my sweetheart's help, who is also

blind, we figured most of it out.

I was overjoyed and said I'd call my pharmacy to see if they carried the

Delica. Betty said I could have the new pen. She gave me a sample pack of

about a half dozen lancets. The day before yesterday I did buy a box of 100

lancets. I was dismayed to find that they cost about 17 dollars, but to be

able to test without the constant soreness and aching of my fingers is worth

the cost to me.

I wanted to share this news for anyone here who is hyper sensitive to BG

testing as I am. I no longer dread testing.

I inject Lantis in the evenings, too. Sometimes I barely feel the needle.

Other times it stings, but not after I take out the needle. Injecting Lantis

doesn't hurt. I don't have to gather any bravery to do it.

Now that I'm taking better care of myself, I feel able to write to this list

more often.

Forgive me for not remembering which one of you to thank for the advice not

to set my pen to inject too deeply. It was kind of you to reply. I do crave

some gentle support. You were absolutely right that we only need to set the

prick to the minimum depth to get a drop of blood. I'm not an easy bleeder.

I have to use hot water, swinging my hand, and putting on a rubber band to

insure I get enough blood when I prick to get a good test.

I've run on long enough for now, but wanted to tell all of you one more

thing. I have received the materials to take the free course on Diabetes

Self Management with Visual Impairment. The text is four volumes long in

braille. There are ten lessons. Until my better eating and other habits are

better established, I want to immerse myself in sound diabetic education.

Hadley will provide course materials on tape or via your computer. The first

lesson is a snap, adapting to change, as in loss of vision and news of being

diabetic. I'll keep you posted as I move into more interesting lessons.

Always with love, and concern for all of you,

Lissi