The question arose why sugar is 5 millimoles per liter from a finger, and 8 millimoles per liter from a leg.
It's all about the so-called alternative test sites.
Well, that is, usually people prick their fingers, put a drop of blood on the strip of the glucometer and get the result. Many people have to do this several times a day. It hurts. Therefore, other places for blood sampling were also chosen: the palm, the upper part of the forearm (this is below the elbow), the thigh or lower leg.
All of these alternative locations have a certain inertia. That is, the blood reaches the fingers the fastest. They are sensitive and well supplied with blood. For example, blood flows to the forearm more slowly.
It is generally accepted that the result in an alternative location may be delayed. Therefore, if an unexpected rise or fall in blood sugar is expected, then only a finger should be pricked. In alternate locations, everything may seem good, and this will lead to an error.
It turns out that the alternative place for the test can be used only two hours after a meal (when the sugar no longer rises), or before a meal.
But you cannot use an alternative site after exercise, after an injection of insulin and in cases when you have already shaken, and there is a suspicion of hypoglycemia.
There were not very successful attempts to somehow stir up an alternative place and attract blood there. They offered to thoroughly grind this place or even use a special device.
Have you seen such things? It is a fist-sized device specially designed to draw blood from an inappropriate location. It sticks to the skin and this vacuum draws more blood to the lancet. A strange device.
Anyway, they haven't come up with anything better than a finger. The necessary capillary blood is obtained from it, and venous blood is usually not mixed.
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