Gestational diabetes fear finger testing RANT

[Elskerdeg]

I am so frustrated with myself.

Got given a testing kit on Thursday but haven't used it yet. I couldn't sleep last night or the night before due to how scared I am of needles. I tried for over an hour this morning until I made myself sick with stress over it.

I'm rationalising it in my head as they won't check the results until Wednesday due to the holidays. So what's the point in doing it from today? I don't have medication to take yet and I've already changed my diet loads so I don't see what good these readings will do. My fasting level was super high so I've been told I'm almost definitely going on Metformin after the Easter holiday. I'm having a c section anyway for other reasons so that isn't even a motivator. I feel like such a wimp. I can't even let someone else do it which is unlike me. My heart is still pounding and I feel so ill and it's been over an hour since I stopped trying. I hate blood tests but I can have them if necessary, I have two bloody injections a day in my thigh of painful blood thinner and it took months for me to not get super worked up over those.

I think I need a reality check. I manage to take my blood thinners (someone else doing them) because I almost died. We thought we were going to lose this baby early on due to abnormal testing results (had to have further tests and a massive amnio needle in my bloody belly) and I managed to get through all that because I care for her so why can't I prick my finger?!

Could you get the same person to do the finger prick that does the other injection? I was on thinners from 28w so know it's not nice but I cracked on with it for my health and my DDs. I'm not a fan of needles at all but preferred the control of administering it myself. Complications can arise from GD so the more info you can provide the Dr/midwifery team the better so I guess take that into consideration.

I know I need to just grow up about it, it's just hard. I'm absolutely fine with the blood thinners but it's taken months and months. I don't feel comfortable with my partner doing it even though he does my thinners, just feels scarier.
I've even considered using our savings to pay for the back of arm monitors so I don't need to test my fingers. After a few hours of trying today I managed to do it twice but first didn't break the skin and second time it did break the skin but didn't hardly get any blood out and so wasn't enough to register. I thought after the first prick it would be less scary but now my thumb just hurts and I'm more scared of doing it again.

I just wish I could do somewhere else, but I can't check this with the diabetes team as obviously it's easter. Surely I'm not the only one with a big fear of needles I wish there was an alternative.

Doing the prick on the side of the pad if your finger hurts far less than doing it in the middle of the pad

In my kit I had an extra attachment that would have allowed me to test on the pad of my hand - do you have any extra bits like that? I have sympathy for you, I hated testing my bloods and some days I had really sore fingers. I found pressing down into the middle of the finger tip to make the skin puff out and be more taut helped it hurt less and I avoided doing thumb or index fingers cos you use them all the time. Also, aim for the sides, not the tops! Those are my practical tips, as far as overcoming the fear goes, you just have to tell yourself to do it. Those blood thinning injections hurt far worse and you are doing it. You can do this!

Thanks everyone. I think I just needed to rant. It's frustrating.

It's so quick. I had to do it for a Covid antigen test research study and the prick didn't hurt. I had to squeeze my finger for ages to make it keep bleeding and that hurt but you don't need to do that.

Blood thinner injections hurt a lot more than testing your bloods, so if you can do the blood thinners, you can do the finger pricks.

It was my fasting that was always high and I ended up on metformin and insulin, so there may be a chance you end up on insulin (not as bad as the finger pricks). Ask the hospital if you can get an arm sensor instead, that’s only one injection done by someone else. I had a couple of arm sensors because I took part in a research trial and they were quite comfortable and it didn’t hurt to have them put in.

The results are important. If your tolerances suddenly go up it can indicate an issue with your placenta. To know that though, you need to know your baseline and your tolerances. It really does suck but it’s short term (although it doesn’t feel like it at the time) and soon you’ll have your baby with you. This is the best way to keep them safe.

It's actually not a needle. It's called a lance. Maybe thinking of it that way might help you to prick your finger with it. Do the sides of your fingers and not the pad and it hurts a lot less.

@Elskerdeg

I know I need to just grow up about it, it's just hard. I'm absolutely fine with the blood thinners but it's taken months and months. I don't feel comfortable with my partner doing it even though he does my thinners, just feels scarier. I've even considered using our savings to pay for the back of arm monitors so I don't need to test my fingers. After a few hours of trying today I managed to do it twice but first didn't break the skin and second time it did break the skin but didn't hardly get any blood out and so wasn't enough to register. I thought after the first prick it would be less scary but now my thumb just hurts and I'm more scared of doing it again.

I just wish I could do somewhere else, but I can't check this with the diabetes team as obviously it's easter. Surely I'm not the only one with a big fear of needles I wish there was an alternative.

I'm not sure if Gestational Diabeties is different 🤔 but my son - type 1 - was told never to test on his thumb, or his index finger, only the other three. Also, like a PP said, prick the side of the finger, it's less sensitive.

Check your kit too. My sons device for pricking his finger has a control function where you can change the setting on how hard it pricks your finger. His is set to 2 and doesn't hurt at all but if he tried on 3 it would.

Oh no I hope I can do my thumb, it's the only one I've even been able to get close to doing. I've done it twice on the smallest depth (hence the lack of blood!), and I know I need to move it up.
Lance. I'll say Lance, not needle, thanks.
I'd love an arm sensor, like I said I've even considered using our little savings to pay for it, but don't want to get one without the diabetes team signing off on it incase they have an issue for whatever reason and I waste my money.
Thanks everyone for being nice about it and trying to talk sense into me. Isn't it weird how you can be completely brave for lots of things and then something small brings out the scared child in you?

Side of your fingers hurt less and make sure you have the lancet set to the ideal number pain-wise. I've never been told not to use my thumb or index finger.

In the beginning I didn't think I was going to be able to do it but given no choice I got on with it and am very used to it now. The freestyle libre is good (and even better if you could get one prescribed for you. Doesn't happen here).

I’m not sure if it’s an option in the UK (I live abroad) but you could ask your doctor about paying privately for a libre sensor.

I have gestational diabetes and it has made it so much easier to track and manage.

I hate pricking my finger (I’m a nurse so fine with needles, I’m also perfectly happy self- injecting insulin and clexane, I just find it really hard to use the lancet on myself).

The sensor just gets attached (painlessly) once every 2 weeks and the you scan it with an app on your phone whenever you want to check (you can also record what you’ve eaten/medications you’ve taken and it produces a graph so you can see what’s happening).
It’s not cheap (about £50 every 2 weeks) but if you can afford it and your able to get one they’re amazing and I can’t recommend them highly enough.

I tried again this morning and spent two hours trying and couldn't do it. I made myself vomit and couldn't stop crying. I actually don't know how to get over this.

Can someone do it for you? STick your arm under theirs (so you’re standing behind them) so you can’t see. Otherwise, could you check with your team if you can do your earlobe?

If you’re not able to prick your finger i don’t think you’d be able to insert a libre sensor, as they do have a large visible needle. You can get a free one online though if you want to try it.

I can't get in contact with anyone until Tuesday to ask about other sites. I did my thigh today. Not an issue. Don't know if it counts at all.
It's just my fingers im struggling with. I have two injections a day in my thigh no problem. I feel really ashamed, but it's clearly a true fear. I'm losing sleep at night worrying about it, and like I said I tried for two hours and made myself quite ill over it.

@RedSnail

If you’re not able to prick your finger i don’t think you’d be able to insert a libre sensor, as they do have a large visible needle. You can get a free one online though if you want to try it.

How do I get a free one to try? That sounds perfect

Definitely not your thumb, it's the worst. Side of your middle or ring finger is far far less sensitive.

What brand of device do you have? Some of them are fine with using your thigh or arm.

@LovelaceBiggWither

What brand of device do you have? Some of them are fine with using your thigh or arm.

I have the Aga matrix jazz. Couldn't find for sure where else I could use.

I'm sorry to say I don't think a libre will work for you. The needle is large and visible and you have to push it into your arm with quite a lot of force for the applicator to fire. I'm type 1 diabetic and am used to doing finger pricks 10 times a day without any thought and I have to work myself up to apply a libre.

Cant someone just do it for you? It takes seconds and I've rarely had a sore finger after doing it, even doing it over and over again on the same finger. Also I agree with PP that you shouldn't be using your thumb. There is something to do with your thumb having a pulse that means you wont get accurate results.

I got myself worked up about this too and with my second baby had to test from 12 weeks - so I know your pain. I was super self controlled about sugar which a lot of people commented on (I am a demon for chocolate usually) and I think it’s because mentally I knew I was doing it to protect my baby from the risks of uncontrolled GD. Do you think you could try and do the same? Reframe your thinking and practice some deep breathing to get through it. I promise you it’s a million times better than blood thinners, I had those for 6 weeks and they were vile. I used to get myself into a huge panic over those so if you’ve coped with those the lances are a walk in the park. It’s so important for your baby they have an accurate view of what your blood sugars are doing. Mine used to go haywire over previously ‘safe’ foods at some stages.

Thank you all for being nice still.
I'm honestly trying all kinds of calming methods and it's time to do it again and I feel awful. I'm absolutely in bits. I'm so scared for my baby

Aw I hated doing these too I really feel for you. I have a needle phobia.

Initially i sang very loudly and looked the other way when doing the finger pricks. I got used to it after about a week. Kudos to you for managing the blood thinner injections.

Getting the right setting on the machine makes a huge difference.

@Elskerdeg when you do manage to prick make sure you massage your hand from wrist right down to the end of the finger you have pricked. Do this 4/5 times if you have to but should get some blood out. Wash hands in hot, hot water as that helps blood flow and make sure you’re hydrated.

Also don’t do it on the end of the finger as you can get the nerves.

Good luck!