 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2005-10-16 16:51
Hello, I am doing some testing with my doc right now and may in the future need to be monitoring my blood sugar. I was wondering about fingerstick setups and the effect they have on clarinet playing in terms of swelling/tenderness in the short term and changes in sensation in the fingertips in the longer term. Any thoughts? And any experiences with setups that do or do not involve fingersticks?
Thanks
Barb
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Author: ClariBone
Date: 2005-10-16 17:47
Didn't B.B.King have diabetis?? He was a guitar player and I don't think whatever he used affected his playing. Perphaps you could consult your physician to see what he might know (someone may have asked the same question). hopefully those with diabetis on this BBoard will help you out. Good Luck!!
Clayton
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Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2005-10-16 18:55
I've had Type II for the past five years, and for a large part of that time did a lot of testing in my fingertips. (I'm down to just a once a day monitoring regimen now.) During that time, I have never experienced any "tenderness" from the testing or any other negative sensation.
And, I do some heavy duty key moving, as I play baritone and bass clarinet as much as I do clarinet.
However, I have known others who simply cannot bear even the needlestick of the testing lancet, much less having it done three or four times a day. It might have been real pain, or it might have been imagined pain, but in any case it's what's in the mind of the "painee" that matters, imagined or not. For them, I would imagine that there would be troubles.
One thing not generally known (and not brought out by diabetic "educators" during the training sessions that you receive) is that where you tap the blood from is not all that critical. While fingertips are well supplied with blood vessels, sites on the rest of the body will work as well. One meter that I've seen allows testing of the forearm, while a "full time" meter that is available will bypass the "drawing process" completely and read from a pad placed against the top of the arm. (This meter looks like a watch, and it requires no physical penetration of the skin if what I read is correct.
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2005-10-16 19:29
I imagine that the wound inflicted by the testing lancet is small enough to go unbandaged.
The other day, my clarinet was just a terror. It wouldn't play much of anything. Then, I realized that there was a bandaid on my left thumb, and the thumb hole wasn't sealing. I wasted many minutes figuring that one out.
Bob Phillips
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Author: William
Date: 2005-10-16 21:12
Right now, I am testing my blood sugar levels twice a day--before breakfast and before supper--to keep track of my type 2 diabetes. Each time I test, I prick the side of the tip rather than the middle that comes in contact with the key and always alternate from side to side as well as finger to finger. That spreads the small injuries caused be the lancets and has so far (6 yrs) prevented any soreness or tenderness while playing my instruments. My meter is an AcuCheck and the lancets are super thin allowing the wound to heal quite rapidly with no need for any bandaid, etc. Hope this gives some help and encouragement. Good thing that reeds are sugar free.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-10-16 21:47
The one touch Ultra (bb kings ad) is quite good. You should alternate the place which you draw the samples from as repeately taking from the same spot will cause a calus and/or soreness, tenderness.
Rub the spot where you are going to draw from, and shake it also to get bloodflow to the area. Make sure you are hydrated also, as the blood will run much slower if you are dehydrated.
Big thing is not to take it from the same place every time as it will become very sore, sensitive, and also not easy to get blood from.
Also ask your doctor about checking postparandial (after dinner 2 hours) as that counts a lot too.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-10-16 21:50
I just started taking byetta which is a stomach shot twice a day.
no big deal at all......
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Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2005-10-16 22:21
Thanks for the advice and input. I understand that the lancets are quite thin. I don't expect to be too much of a wimp, so Terry may be right that it could end up being a nonissue. Williams "side of the tip" idea sounds interesting as well, since it would multiply the possible sites. I also play piano, so the one with BB King's ad might be interesting as well.
Thanks again.
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2005-10-16 22:36
If you are allowed to, use your right thumb for the "stick." There isn't much pressure applied by the tip of the right thumb when playing a clarinet
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-10-16 23:27
Set the lancet for the lowest possible setting which will draw blood and draw enough to get the sample. Change your needle often as they do get dull after the first use as per directions.
It hasn't affected me for Clarinet whatsoever, and the lancet spot almost instantly closes up. I find the doctors pin prick (when they draw a sample) to be 10x worse!
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2005-10-17 01:50
I've had Type 1 for 15 years now, and test at least 6 times a day. I have callouses on nearly all of my fingers from the tests. I test on the sides of my fingertips and have never had a problem playing even immediatly after testing. I never test on the tips, but when a doc or nurse has pricked me there, it definitely hurts!
The right thumb would work, but only the outside of the thumb. The direct area where my clarinet rests on my thumb would most definitely be painful immediately after a fingerstick!!
And the points David makes about using the lowest setting on the lancet device and regularly changing lancets are good ones. They don't help me though, cause of the thick callouses I've got...I need to use the deepest setting on mine!
One caveat about testing on the arm: Someone (I can't remember who now) mentioned that she had tried it but because she was told to slap the area in order to bring blood to it she went back to fingers 'cause the slapping hurt worse than any fingerstick!
Katrina
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2005-10-17 03:35
My sister is a diabetic and my dad was a diabetic. Forearm testing is said to be 15 minutes behind in what your actual blood sugar is and could be dangerous if you are super low. I read an article that says you can now test on your palm and that it is accurate in time and that it is supposed to be less painful than finger testing! Hope it works!!!
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-10-17 17:17
I use the FreeStyle Flash meter, which needs only a tiny drop of blood and comes with a lancet holder that will draw a drop from your forearm.
BD now makes 33 gauge lancets http://www.bddiabetes.com/ca/english/bgm/lancets.asp, which cause almost no pain, particularly with a fingertip stick only deep enough to draw the tiny amount needed by the FreeStyle meter.
No-stick, bloodless meters, which read through the skin, have been announced several times, but are apparently not yet completely reliable. See, for example, http://www.mendosa.com/meters.htm.
Good luck. It's worth your life to monitor several times a day, every day, and maintain tight control.
Ken Shaw
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-10-17 17:57
Clarinetgirl06 - you are correct. Fingertip is much more accurate to the minute.
I wonder what concert playing does to the sugar level (stress is known to raise it)? Will have to measure it sometime.
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Author: Grant
Date: 2005-10-18 00:14
DAVE.
I have never checked before and after a concert but a good hard rehearsal lowers my blood sugar like a mild work out and any playing my clarinet seems to lower my blood pressure.
Sharp lancets and rotating fingers helps. The blood draws hurt more often than the shots.
Peace on Earth and May You always have a reed that PLAYS.
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