11
TESTING YOUR BLOOD GLUCOSE
Lancing and sampling from an alternate site
Sampling from your palm or forearm allows you to use your fingertips less often. You may find that obtaining a blood sample from an
alternate site is less painful than using a fingertip. Getting a blood sample from your forearm or palm is different than getting a sample from
your fingertips.
Insert a sterile lancet and snap on the clear cap
Adjust the depth setting
You may have to adjust the lancing device to a deeper setting to get a large enough
drop of blood from your forearm or palm. Twist the clear cap toward the larger
numbers to increase the depth.
Be sure to cock the lancing device.
Puncture your forearm or palm
Firmly press and hold the lancing device against your forearm or palm for a few
seconds.
Wait until the skin surface under the clear cap changes color
(as blood collects beneath the skin). This tells you there is enough blood
flow for a good sample.
Then press the release button while continuing to apply
pressure. Keep holding the lancing device against your skin until a round drop of
blood forms under the cap.
Remember: Consult with your healthcare professional before using your forearm or palm for testing.
Choose a different puncture site each time you test. Repeated punctures in the same spot may cause soreness and calluses. If bruising occurs at
an alternate site or you have difficulty getting a sample, consider sampling from a fingertip instead. You may want to review the choice of sites
with your healthcare professional.
Forearm sampling
Choose a fleshy area of the forearm away from bone, visible veins and hair.
Sometimes there is less blood flow to the forearm than to the fingertips. To help you
get a large enough drop of blood, you may gently massage or apply warmth to the
site to increase blood flow.
Palm sampling
Choose a fleshy area on the palm below your thumb or little pinky finger.
Select a spot with no visible veins and away from deep lines, which may cause
your blood sample to smear.
The clear cap is used for forearm and palm sampling only. Replace the blue (or black) cap with the clear cap.
Palm
Forearm
Palm
Forearm
