Question for Those With LE and Diabetes Who Monitor Blood Sugar

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cinnamonsmiles
cinnamonsmiles Member Posts: 779
edited August 2014 in Lymphedema

Due to long term high dose prednisone, I developed diabetes and I have not been able to lower my blood sugars since I have been off it without medications.

I went to my clinic's diabetes education specialist. I explained up and down, backwards and forwards that I CAN NOT use the lancet on my fingers, hands, or arms for checking blood glucose levels. She didn't seem like she was well prepared for my appointment nor did she seem the sharpest tack either.

In the mean time, I almost died from a lung disease, had a thoracotomy and lost 15% of my left lung.

I had been taking blood glucose levels on my legs. Since things calmed down, I called the company that made the glucose reader that the diabetes education specialist gave me to find out the best place to take it on the leg. I was informed that they had NO METERS that were approved for that usage.

I called and complained. Since that "specialist" made an error, Medicare WILL NOT pay for another meter so soon. 

The nurse I spoke with did some digging (she claims) and told me that a Freestyle meter would be best for me. She said it takes less blood on the strip (which solves my problem of having to use more test strips than I was allowed by Medicare in the time frame allotted because I don't get that much blood from above the knee) and another reason I can't think of.

Before I pick up my new glucose reader, I would like to know what meter other people with bilateral LE are using and where do you poke with your lancet for blood? 

I really appreciate your help!

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited August 2014

    I talked with a friend who said that she can use her glucose monitor on thigh/leg.  You might do a search and contact other manufacturers for info. You might also contact you LE Therapist and/or your cancer center for input.  Just thoughts to try -can't hurt to ask

    added: You might google for a national association for diabetis and call them.   You can't be the only one who can not use arms/hands.

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited August 2014

    Gardenlover, I'm so sorry about all the issues you've had to deal with, and especially this craziness with the diabetes. One of the problems with using alternative blood testing sites is that the numbers you get will lag behind real-time blood sugar readings from your palm or fingertip by as much as 20 or 30 minutes. In other words, it'll only tell you what your blood sugar level WAS half an hour ago, not what it IS now. Obviously that will make it much harder to control the bG levels, since it's not an accurate reading of your current situation, and any adjustments you make to those readings could cause big problems if they're not accurate.

    That leaves you with the problem of deciding how much you want to risk with either the diabetes or the LE/infection. One factor to consider is whether you've had cellulitis in the past. If so, you're possibly at higher risk for a repeat. If not, that's one point in favor of cautiously doing fingertip blood tests, at least at those times when it matters a lot what the actual current bG numbers are: after exercise, or if you can't "feel" a low, or if you just injected insulin, or if you're planning to drive the car, for instance. If you use your fingers, you'll need to be extra careful about washing your hands thoroughly, drying them on a clean towel, and maybe even using alcohol to clean the site before drawing blood (which 20 years ago when our daughter was diagnosed was standard procedure but isn't practiced much now). It will also help to keep your LE in excellent control, avoid using a limb that's flaring, and get help promptly if you suspect an infection is starting. Here's information about cellulitis symptoms and what to do about them:

    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Emergencies_and_Med...

    You might also get your PCP to prescribe antibiotics you can keep on hand to use right away in case of infection, then check with him/her if you need to start using them.

    None of this is simple. Can you find a diabetes educator you trust? That would make a huge difference in maintaining the balance you'll need between the risks on either side of this issue. You're quite an amazing tightwire walker!

    Please keep us posted and let us know how you're doing. 
    Gentle hugs,
    Binney

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