You're more apt to check your numbers if finger pricks don't hurt. Here’s how.

Published: February 1, 2017 | Updated: August 3, 2023

If you have diabetes, checking your blood sugar with a finger prick is something you have to do. Not because your doctor says so, but because you want to feel good. Right? Right?

You’re more apt to check your numbers regularly if your fingers don’t hurt. Here’s how to make it painless:

• Prick only warm fingers. If your hands are cold, shake them before pricking.
• Use a new lancet every time. They get dull quickly and dull = pain.
• Don’t use alcohol sanitizer. Alcohol dries out skin, causing
• it to crack and become painful.
• Steer clear of the fingertip. Prick the sides of your finger. The tips have more nerve endings.
• Don’t forget the thumb. It can be less sensitive because it’s usually more callused.
• No squeezing. If a droplet doesn’t form, hold your hand below your waist for 5 seconds instead of squeezing the finger.
• Try tea tree oil on sore fingers to soothe and help heal.

Read more: Diabetes puts you at risk for heart disease, but there are things you can do