I’ve noticed that I default to testing my blood glucose on my left pinky. Most of the time I load up a test strip, set my Delica to ‘attack mode’ and prepare my left pinky for pain before realizing I have 9 other options at my disposal. Most of the time I move my lancing device to a different finger for the actual test, but most of the time I touch my pinky before moving to the eventual victim of my next test. It’s a weird habit whose origins I cannot pinpoint.
This brings me to the participation portion of today’s blog post.
Yesterday I asked Twitter (twice) for their their ‘default digit’ for testing blood glucose. The feedback was quite impressive.
@iam_spartacus don't test as often as I should but I can only get what I need out of the left middle for some reason #diabetes—
Michael Corbin (@Scarfinger) March 23, 2011
@iam_spartacus I always default to the left hand, but the pinky hurts!
#bgnow #bgwed—
Manny Hernandez (@askmanny) March 23, 2011
@iam_spartacus Left hand index finger. That puppy is kind of beat up! #bgnow #diabetes #bgwed—
Kim V. (@txtngmypancreas) March 23, 2011
@iam_spartacus I default to left middle and ring fingers. I have no idea why. #diabetes—
(@victoriacumbow) March 23, 2011
@iam_spartacus My left ring finger…poor little dude! #diabetes—
Jess(@saucygurl915) March 23, 2011
@iam_spartacus I don't have a default finger yet, but I do forget about using the other side of the finger. Another 10 sides at my mercy.—
MartYn (@DiabeTees) March 23, 2011
@iam_spartacus Right hand, middle finger.—
Jeff Mather (@jeffmather) March 23, 2011
RT @MyTypeOne @iam_spartacus Heavily default to the left ring finger. Not sure why but It's always been so. #diabetes—
Christopher (@iam_spartacus) March 23, 2011
@iam_spartacus I prefer a pinky, too – they tend to bleed easier. When I started testing I promised to never use a thumb or index finger.—
Justin Rusbatch (@jrusbatch) March 23, 2011
RT @IGotThaSuga @iam_spartacus Left hand, middle finger—
Christopher (@iam_spartacus) March 23, 2011
@iam_spartacus Based on the callouses on my fingertips, I'll say my left middle finger.—
Holly R (@Arnold_and_Me) March 23, 2011
@iam_spartacus when i remember, either my left pinky or my left ring finger. it's just what i started doing.—
Tabatha M. (@tabulous) March 23, 2011
@iam_spartacus Left hand, middle finger. Frees up the other hand, middle finger to share with my meter when it gives me results.—
Martin Wood (@woodonwheels) March 23, 2011
@iam_spartacus right hand ring finger.☹not looking good.—
Osob Gabdon (@africandoll33) March 23, 2011
@iam_spartacus left hand, middle and ring fingers.—
Stephanie DiChiara (@stephiedichiara) March 23, 2011
@iam_spartacus right side of right ring finger.—
Katie (@avisualtinkle) March 23, 2011
Yeah! @Arnold_and_Me are both giving the middle finger to diabetes more often than not. (cc: @iam_spartacus)—
Jeff Mather (@jeffmather) March 23, 2011
Anyone else out there? What’s your Default Digit for testing your blood glucose?
My left ring finger. I defaulted to it for so long, it started to look like a calloused piece of cheese cloth so now I try to rotate. But, like you, when I’m poised to fire the lancet, it’s always aimed at that finger and I have to consciously tell myself to find another victim!
I don’t do index fingers or thumbs, and I can’t get any blood out of the other 3 fingers on my left hand because of calluses from playing guitar, so I only poke one of the 3 remaining fingers on my right hand. Among those 3, I don’t think I have a favorite, though.
Seems like most of the tweets lean toward their left hands, and I wonder if there’s a correlation with handedness. It certainly helps that I’m a lefty that I go for the 3 fingers on my right hand exclusively!
I honestly thought of the handedness correlation as well, but I’m left-handed, yet I prick my left hand the most. Weird, huh?
Left hand, pinky and ring finger. They are the easiest to get to the test strip.
Also sometimes my right pinky if I’m feeling adventurous. I used to use my ring ring finger, but not as much lately. Need to get back into that. Give my left hand a vacation.
I tend to favour the ring and middle fingers on my left hand, they are the easiest to squeeze with the other fingers
Right middle finger. Funny I told someone at work I had to quit sticking the same finger all the time. It seems like I just automatically poke it. I am very left handed.
my left ring finger gets it
I start on one hand and go through all the fingers, then transfer to the other hand and do the same. I use each finger twice (one test on each side) ….so far it works…
Right hand ring or middle finger.
I don’t seem to have a preference to any finger or thumb. I stick both of my hands and both sides of my fingers. I agree with the handedness correlation.
I have calluses on my left index and following two fingers and my pinky doesn’t like being poked either.. I started using my right hand fingers after 32 years of being a diabetic.
Forgot to say…I don’t default much…I believe in diversity and equanimity
Diabetic Liz
Right hand, index/pointer.