RE: strange question

August 18, 2004

Lynda,

No, blood from a bloody nose is not good for testing your blood sugar, and no,

you don't use your pinky or thumb. At least I don't.

It's my understanding that blood from a wound or even from nose bleeding is

considered " contaminated. " In the case of the wound, its cleanliness is

compromised since it's a wound that could bring an infection. The nose bleed

many times is blood that has been pooling for awhile so it's not quite fresh.

And I'm sure there are other factors that negate using blood from either

instance. When you injure your finger or arm or other body part, your body

rushes other elements to try and protect that part, hence the blood is

" contaminated. "

There is probably a better explanation than mine, but I think you get the idea

from this. I had wondered the same thing some time ago but when I sat down and

thought about it, it was a no-brainer. And believe me, I wish I had a brain.....

Best regards,

Bill

August 18, 2004

, the main reason they teach nurses not to use the pinkie is because it

is often more painful to use that little finger. the thumb is often not

used partly for the same reason, but also because the thumb is often more

callused. Cut from a wound is okay to use if you use it immediately, but

the body often has a response of " shock " when you get a wound and puts out

adrenilin. this makes your sugar temporarily go up, so the reading you get

can be a short term false one. I really sdon't think if you had a minor

wound it would raise your BG that quickly or radicaly though. The problem

with nose beed is that the blood is often mixed with mucous and that can

give you a false reading. man girl! You'll try anything!

strange question

Hi All,

I was having a conversation with my girlfriends daughter who is going to

vocational school to become a nurse; and we we're discussing blood tests

and diabetes. My question is blood from a cut or scratch safe to use for

checking sugar results? I put this to the test today when I had a bloody

nose and it did read for me. My result was 200 but before you all go

freaking out all my loving neighbors decided to mow their lawns today and

flaired up the allergies. Oh and she was also being taught not to use the

thumbs or pinkies and she didn't understand why. I told her i use my

pinkies and she said I'm not supposed to. I told her I'd find out so she

can correct her teacher if I'm right.

Lynda

August 18, 2004

actually I've never heard to not use pinkies or thumbs, I use them all the

time, and even Bernstein uses them.

Regards,

Re: strange question

> Lynda,

>

> No, blood from a bloody nose is not good for testing your blood sugar, and

no, you don't use your pinky or thumb. At least I don't.

>

> It's my understanding that blood from a wound or even from nose bleeding

is considered " contaminated. " In the case of the wound, its cleanliness is

compromised since it's a wound that could bring an infection. The nose bleed

many times is blood that has been pooling for awhile so it's not quite

fresh. And I'm sure there are other factors that negate using blood from

either instance. When you injure your finger or arm or other body part, your

body rushes other elements to try and protect that part, hence the blood is

" contaminated. "

>

> There is probably a better explanation than mine, but I think you get the

idea from this. I had wondered the same thing some time ago but when I sat

down and thought about it, it was a no-brainer. And believe me, I wish I had

a brain.....

>

> Best regards,

>

> Bill

>

August 18, 2004

Hi Pat,

I was just under the assumption that blood was blood and didn't realize

their were things like adrenaline that was there too. don't worry I'm not

going to go around punching myself in the nose or causing scrapes in order

to check my sugar. I'll still do it the old fashioned way and poke my poor

fingers.

One other question how can these new checkers with the drums use the

thighs, forearms, and other areas be effective? Wouldn't adreline be in

them areas also? I know I'm to curious about things. Like my Grandma used

to tell me my Mom should have named me .

LyndaAt 05:37 PM 8/17/2004 -0700, you wrote:

>, the main reason they teach nurses not to use the pinkie is because it

>is often more painful to use that little finger. the thumb is often not

>used partly for the same reason, but also because the thumb is often more

>callused. Cut from a wound is okay to use if you use it immediately, but

>the body often has a response of " shock " when you get a wound and puts out

>adrenilin. this makes your sugar temporarily go up, so the reading you get

>can be a short term false one. I really sdon't think if you had a minor

>wound it would raise your BG that quickly or radicaly though. The problem

>with nose beed is that the blood is often mixed with mucous and that can

>give you a false reading. man girl! You'll try anything!

>

> strange question

>

>Hi All,

>

>I was having a conversation with my girlfriends daughter who is going to

>vocational school to become a nurse; and we we're discussing blood tests

>and diabetes. My question is blood from a cut or scratch safe to use for

>checking sugar results? I put this to the test today when I had a bloody

>nose and it did read for me. My result was 200 but before you all go

>freaking out all my loving neighbors decided to mow their lawns today and

>flaired up the allergies. Oh and she was also being taught not to use the

>thumbs or pinkies and she didn't understand why. I told her i use my

>pinkies and she said I'm not supposed to. I told her I'd find out so she

>can correct her teacher if I'm right.

>

>Lynda

>

August 19, 2004

Nothing wrong with wondering how things are working. Using blood from any

part of your bod is okay-but if you have a wound the adrenilin strts and

immediately ups your sugar. I sure wish they would make those drum things

acessible. I have a friend who has one and it takes 5 seconds to get a

blood glucose level. I'm jealous!