I really wanted to test blood glucose for my own information. I think I’m responding to sweeteners like stevia or erythritol and probably sucralose with an insulin response. And I think it might be causing hypoglycemia. So, I got all the stuff to test and I can’t pull the trigger on the stupid lancet pen. I tried for half an hour and got so shaky and sweaty that my deodorant gave up. I then tried to do it without the stupid pen and it hurt. So now I’m eating some pepperoni and cheese for dinner and it’s not even helping me feel better. Plus, I dropped the lancet uncapped on the floor so I can step on it later. I applaud you who can test your BG, especially if you have to test it for diabetes management.
Props to those who test BG. I can't do it
Roy_D_Rushing_Jr
(Roy D Rushing Jr )
#2
I remember a time in the distant past where I felt that way. I never had to test mine for diabetes, but through various encounters with people who did test their blood I ended up having mine tested a few times. I felt that sweaty nervousness you describe at the thought of firing off that lancet into my finger, but I guess that since I was always doing it in front of other people I just choked it down and did it. Eventually exposure broke be of it and it really isn’t anything to me anymore. It’s one of those wierd things where you have to prove to yourself a bunch of times that there isn’t anything to it before it becomes comfortable. Take it from me, pressing the little lancet button is nothing if not anticlimactic. I hardly feel it. If you don’t have the dial that dictates how deep it stabs you all the way up you might not even draw blood.
J_A-M
(Jay AM)
#3
Worst part is, about 2.5 years ago I decided to do a home glucose tolerance test. I tested about 8 times in one day but, only once was I ever able to press the button myself. After that I had to get help from anyone willing to do it for me. Not once did it hurt at all and it drew blood perfect every time. But, the idea that it could hurt makes me panicky. I’m remembering the pain from the big hospital lancets and how terrible it is getting tested with them. As a kid it would leave my finger bruised and as an adult I would nearly panic every time it had to be done. Surprisingly, I’m not needle phobic. I have piercings and tattoos, I have no problem with blood or plasma draws. The only things that send me into a panic spiral is trying to lancet myself and getting shots. It’s got to be the silliest things. I definitely need keto because I’d die as a diabetic.
I find it helps to get a good shriek going on 2 seconds before you pull the trigger. Then you realize your ears hurt more than your finger.
mtncntrykid
(Ron)
#5
When I first started testing years ago, it hurt less if I did it in the fatty part of my hand below the little finger. Didn’t seem to hurt there so anxiety was much less as well.
J_A-M
(Jay AM)
#6
Reading my second response, I actually think it’s psychological from getting tested as a kid. We had WIC and the WIC office did health testing and shots. Meanwhile, since I can’t test and no one can help, I’m just going to have to cut sweeteners. I should train the dog to help lol.
OldDoug
(Doug)
#7
Once I was a diabetic, I tested, for about one week. Got tired of the sore fingers. I could carve away all day on the outside of my forearms, but am a total wimp about needles, like for having blood drawn. Had to work myself up a little, to do the finger-sticking. Just going to look in the rear-view mirror, as it were, with A1C tests…
Roy_D_Rushing_Jr
(Roy D Rushing Jr )
#10
Except when they’re fears of bears. Fearing a bear is rarely irrational. 
J_A-M
(Jay AM)
#12
I grew up with 2 clowns as family friends. They always showed up as clowns (probably because I didn’t recognize them out of their costumes.) They were great. Clowns are just comedians who wear more makeup.
Shortstuff
(Allie)
#13
I was scared the first time but pushed through. it’s really nothing, don’t even feel it.
brownfat
(Todd Allen)
#15
There are lots of nerves in your fingertips but a lot less on the sides of your fingers. I mostly use the sides of the last joint of my thumbs where I get good flow with the lancing device set fairly shallow and rarely feel much, especially if I’m using a relatively fresh lance.
Hobbit
(Carmen Stone)
#16
I do the sides of my fingers as well. Still hurts a bit though. I only test when I really have to because I still find it painful. However, I want to test my husband who I think has been borderline diabetic for years and he won’t let me. I was shocked at how freaked out he got with the idea.
fiddlebanshee
(Jo)
#17
I don’t want to start a debate, but they actually are not. They rarely bother people and if they do, it’s because the people bothered them first. I have great relationship with our resident bear family (last year she had 4 cubs!). She’s laid back, doesn’t bother my chickens and I love seeing the cubs play on our wildlife cameras. I will not go out and pet her or the cubs, because she’s a wild animal and wouldn’t understand and react angrily, I’m sure, but observing from a distance is not a problem.
My view is, we intruded on their territory, they tolerate us and so we have to be polite and not bother them. I just make sure I don’t tempt them with people food, or chicken feed (all safely locked away) and we get along very nicely.
NelleG
(Bacon for the Win)
#18
You have obviously never watched Steven Colbert. It’s a joke for pete’s sake!
J_A-M
(Jay AM)
#20
Well, I did actively work to overcome the fear today. I’m still sweating and shaking but managed to do 2 consecutive tests, one on my forearm and one on my finger. Of course, they didn’t hurt. Which, I already knew they wouldn’t. That doesn’t stop the mental game though. Hopefully it’s a step towards testing whenever I need to to see if I can narrow down what I believe might be a hypo or hyper response to something. Thanks for your stories guys.