Pull back the cocking barrel until
you hear a click. Now the lancing
device is loaded and ready to
draw blood.
Before taking a blood sample,
wash your hands or use an
alcohol swab to clean the area.
Washing your hands in hot water
increases blood circulation. You
can also massage from wrist to
finger to promote better blood
circulation.
Holding the lancing device
against the side of the finger to
be lanced, press the release
button and then put down the
lancing device. Massage
forward slowly from the base
of your finger to the tip to
increase the sample size.
Wipe away the first drop of
blood and use the second drop
for the test strip.
Tip:
To reduce pain, lance on
the sides of the fingertips,
where there are less nerve
endings. Rotate finger
locations as much as
possible to accelerate
wound healing and decrease
callouses.
Forearm or Palm Testing
Collecting blood samples from your palm or forearm may be less painful
than your fingertips because there are less nerve endings. The procedure
for collecting samples from your palm or forearm is slightly different. You
will need the clear cap for this type of sampling. You cannot adjust the
puncture depth with the clear cap.
IMPORTANT: There are important differences among forearm, palm
and fingertip samples that you should know. Important information
about forearm, palm glucose testing:
Please refer to "Fingertip Testing" sections 1-3 and 5 to learn how to install
lancets into lancets holder.
When blood levels are changing rapidly such as after a meal,
insulin dose or exercise, blood from the fingertips may show
these changes more rapidly than blood from other areas.
Fingertips should be used if testing is within 2 hours of a meal,
insulin dose or exercise and any time you feel glucose levels are
changing rapidly.
You should test with the fingertips anytime there is a concern for
hypoglycemia or you suffer from hypoglycemia unawareness.
Screw the clear cap onto the
lancing device.
Choose a sampling site on
your forearm or palm that is
dry and clean. Do not choose
an area near bone, visible
veins, or hair. To bring fresh
blood to the surface for
sampling, massage the site
vigorously until it feels warm.
Place the lancing device
against the puncture site. Press
and hold the clear cap against
the puncture site for a few
seconds. Press the release
button of the lancing device,
but do not immediately lift the
lancing device from the
puncture site. Continue to hold
the lancing device against the
puncture site until you can
confirm a sufficient blood
sample has formed.
