• Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Diabetes
  • Programmes & Courses
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Book a Consultation
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Diabetes
  • Programmes & Courses
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Book a Consultation
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Diabetes
  • Programmes & Courses
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Book a Consultation
  • Home
  • Blood sugar testing
  • Hints for a blood draw/test

Hints for a blood draw/test

Posted on Jan 1st, 2018
by The Artisan Diabetic
Categories:
  • Blood sugar testing
  • Diabetes
  • Diabetes awareness
  • Glucose testing
  • Insulin dependent diabetes

Despite giving myself thousands of injections I don’t like having blood samples taken.  Regular blood work is essential for good diabetes management. The tests include, but aren’t confined to Hba1c (haemoglobin A1c), which shows what the average blood sugar was for the previous weeks, thyroid, liver function and cholesterol levels.

My GP is very good at getting blood samples. Over the year’s several Doctors have said to me ‘you have terrible veins, I don’t think I will get anything (blood)’. I used to believe this and it made the experience nerve wrecking and makes it harder to get a blood sample when you are tense.  I have veins that are not easy to find, but they are good veins. They have kept me alive and well for over 50 years. They have kept circulation going to all my organs and extremities despite the challenges that T1 has thrown at them. So no, I do not have bad veins!

Whether your blood is being drawn by a Nurse, Doctor or Phlebotomist the following hints will make things a little easier:

1. Hydrate

Drinking lots of water the day before and the day of the blood draw makes a huge difference. Water helps to make blood thinner and pumps up veins, both good news for blood sampling.

2. Warm Hands

Warm hands make blood vessels stay nearer the surface and easier to get a blood sample from. Wear gloves unless the weather is very warm. If my hands are cold I will wear gloves even in July! In very cold weather I use gel hand warmers. They can be placed into gloves or better still, in mittens. It’s important to be very careful with these, especially if you have any numbness or peripheral neuropathy.

3. Numb the area

I rub a local anaesthetic on the blood sampling location (usually my wrist) to reduce the pain of a blood test.  I usually apply it about an hour beforehand and then again just before my appointment. I got this on prescription and find it very good. This isn’t medical advice, just something I find helpful.

4 Exercise

Any type of exercise will help to get your circulation going, which will help. Whether it’s a quick walk near the Doctor’s surgery or a longer exercise session before your appointment.

5 Tell

Tell the person taking the sample if you are very nervous or have fainted during a blood draw in the past. They can help to relax you and may suggest that you lay down during the draw. Promise yourself a treat or do something you enjoy afterward. You deserve it!

Nobody should have to put up with torture while getting a blood sample taken. You are entitled to say stop or ask for someone else to try. Reschedule and try the hints above. That’s why it’s important to have your blood samples taken in plenty of time before a Clinic or Endo appointment.

Wishing you all free-flowing veins for blood draws!

 

 

 

 

  • blood draw
  • Blood samples

The Artisan Diabetic

Categories

Breakfast

Breakfast

Chicken

Chicken

Desserts

Desserts

Fish

Fish

Mains

Mains

Meat

Meat

Salads

Salads

Snacks

Snacks

Soup & Starters

Soup & Starters

Vegetables

Vegetables

About

About

Thank you for visiting “The Artisan Diabetic ”. This is my website about living well with type 1 Diabetes for over 50 years. I would like to share some of my recipes and tips with you.

As well as having experience of the everyday ups and downs with Diabetes I am a qualified Nutrition and Health Coach.

A couple of one to one sessions will put you on the right track whether you have Diabetes, Thyroid disease, other conditions or just want to improve your general health.

I'm looking forward to meeting you!

To find out more please email me at anne@theartisandiabetic.ie. Include your telephone number if you would like me to call you.

Alternatively give me a call on 085 2534897.

Popular Tags

#diabetesawareness amicus restaurant Banks Bar BBQ beef beef burgers beetroot birthday cake blood glucose breakfast carbs carrots Celeriac chicken Ciara Carew Cork diabetes eggs fashion design feta frittata galway garlic Junk Kouture Kenmare smoked salmon Lentils low carb mushrooms newly diagnosed omega 3 orange Radisson Hotel restaurant review salad salmon smoked salmon Tomato tomatoes Treat type 1 diabetes type 2 diabetes vegetables vegetable soup vegetarian wholemeal flour

Archives

https://www.instagram.com/theartisandiabetic/

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No connected account.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to connect an account.

Facebook Friends

© THE ARTISAN DIABETIC | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | DISCLAIMER | SITE BY Boon Agency