How to Make Blood Sugar Testing Less Painful
All the pricking and poking that comes along with blood sugar testing can make it a painful habit.
While it's somewhat of a necessary evil when it comes to managing diabetes, there are ways to reduce the discomfort.
Use your Thumb
Many people report that pricking the thumb causes the least amount of pain, possibly because it tends to have thicker skin than the other fingers.
Prick the Side of your Finger
Pricking the side of the finger near the nail bed is often less painful than doing so on the pads of your fingers - that's because your finger pads have more nerve endings.
Apply Pressure
Lightly pinching or squeezing the area to be pricked can help minimize pain.
Switch Fingers
Experiment to find which fingers are least sensitive when pricking. Then, vary these in a rotation each time you test your blood sugar.
Check your Equipment
Many advancements are continuously being made when it comes to blood sugar monitoring devices. If you have a very old model or one that requires a lot of blood to be drawn, you may want to experiment with a different device.
Warm your Hand
It may seem logical that ice would numb pain, but cold can actually worsen pain when it comes to finger pricking. Instead, try warming your hand before you prick it to stimulate blood flow and minimize discomfort.
Source: Health.com
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