I wrote a couple of weeks ago about being sick of the prick. Well, now I’m going to talk to you about a couple of ways that you can minimize the prick or even eliminate it completely. This is the thing I alluded to when I wrote the previous post.
Wouldn’t you love to eliminate pricking your finger every day, several times a day? I know I would. As a type 2 diabetic, I hate pricking my fingers. My fingers hurt, they are calloused and I am just sick (figuratively and literally) of the constant pricking my fingers!
I prick my finger when I first get up in the morning so I have my fasting glucose reading. The doctor wants it between 90-130. It’s been an average of 138. Not quite where it needs to be, but much closer than the 300-400 that it used to be!
I prick my finger an hour or two after breakfast. My blood sugar (glucose) can be as high as 180 and my diabetes care team will still be okay with it. I’m usually around 140. So I’m doing good there.
I prick my finger after lunch, after supper and before bed. I sometimes prick it when I feel “funny” (not in the ha-ha way)!
That’s a minimum of four pricks and usually quite a few more.
That’s a lot of pricking and a lot of bleeding! I am a big baby when it comes to pricking my finger!
Continuous Glucose Monitoring
My diabetes team said I could try this device that was just one prick for a two-week period. It would be a device I would wear on my arm and would have a needle that stuck in my arm and did blood sugar readings every five minutes.
Okay, great! One prick instead of approximately 60? I’m on board.
The CGM doesn’t really hurt to go in. In fact, it hurt less than pricking my finger.
You can read more about the CGM at this link. This site is not exactly how the one I have works, but it gives you a general idea of the process.
My CGM was inserted in my arm on Thursday, January 17. I will be going back to the doctor’s office on January 24 to see how it went for the first week. At this time, we will download the first week’s results and see if any changes need to be made to my medications. (Well, since I don’t want to be on medications anyway, I am hoping it shows that I don’t need as much insulin or Metformin or Ozempic!)
The device has a computer chip in it that does the readings all day and all night. This will be downloaded to her computer and we’ll be able to see a lot of data from this including when I am having high blood sugars, low blood sugars and when I am right where I should be.
I’m a little anxious to see how it turns out. At the same time, I know this information is important and I have nothing to be afraid of.
Even though this device will cut down on the number of pricks I have to endure on a daily basis, it is still an “invasive” procedure because a needle is constantly in my arm for up to 14 days!
The other part of this is the ongoing cost. Every 14 days I will have to replace the device. That adds up. It is probably around the same cost as buying the test strips, lancets and meter for doing the multiple daily pricks.
Helo Extense—Prick-free living!
But what if there was a way to live without the prick at all? That would be the way to go, right?
Oh yeah! Now we are really talking!
When my friend told me about the Extense, I thought she was pulling my leg. I mean, how could a device test my blood sugar without using blood?
Well, that’s the beauty of the Extense.
According to their site: “The HELO Extense is a peripheral device that pairs with your smartphone and tracks your Sugar Trends, non-invasively. No more pricking your finger. No blood, no mess, no pain. Similar, in shape and use, to an oximeter, HELO Extense contains advanced PPG sensors. The Extense App on your smartphone provides a description of your Sugar Trend on demand.”
This video shows you a basic rundown of how the device works!
And it’s even better now because when they finally released the device around the first of the year, the Extense will now not just measure trends, but actual blood sugar readings!
To me, that is a vital part. Just having a device tell me I am low, normal or high isn’t especially useful, but the actual numbers are.
The Extense comes at a cost, but compared to a lifetime of spending money on test strips, lancets, monitors or a CGM device, I am weighing the cost and coming up with a lifetime of savings and peace of mind.
I will be able to purchase my Extense in two months. But if you have the money, why not try it now? It comes with a money back guarantee. Please check out the return/refund policy.
Summing it all up!
In my humble opinion, the Helo Extense is the way to go! It may cost more to start with, but in the long run, it will save money, pain and keep your fingers what they were meant for in life—not being pricked all the time!
Why wait? Order your Helo Extense Today!
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About the author
Karin Nauber, is a professional journalist who has worked in the newspaper business for the past 27 years. She is also a grandmother who, along with her spouse, is raising one of their granddaughters. Karin has five grandchildren with whom she enjoys spending as much time as possible. Karin also was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about 11 years ago and has faced many challenges with the disease. If you would like to contact her, please do so at: karin@diabeteshealthnuts.com.
I couldn’t imagine going to sleep with first device (the continuous glucose monitoring device) in my arm. I toss and turn quite a bit and I imagine I would rupture a vein overnight. Also, given the fact that it has a computer chip that continuously monitors blood sugar, I wonder how many studies they have done from electromagnetic radiation and its effects on long-term users.
Hi Terrence! Thanks for visiting!
I toss and turn quite a lot, but it stays in place. They use a glue that holds it in place! I’m kind of nervous about them taking it off! I am not sure of the radiation and the effects, but I will be very happy to get my Extense so that I don’t have to prick my fingers or anything else or worry about the other things.
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Thak you for this informative and amazing post,i feel so sorry for you having to prick your finger almost every time and I can also relate to prickling in the case of my Aunty.if truly the helo Extense can help test for blood sugar level without prickling, this will be my best birthday gift
Thanks for visiting my site, Clement!
Yes, the device really can test the blood sugar level without pricking anything! It truly will revolutionize the treatment of diabetes, if the medical profession will embrace it!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Thanks a lot for sharing such informative and very helpful Karin. My aunt suffers from diabetes type 2 and she is just like you, she hates to pick her finger and she is doing that against her will. This product seems great and I will definitely order one for her as it is not expensive but it is worth it.
Thanks for visiting my site, Daniel!
I hope that your Aunt will enjoy the device! She sure won’t have to endure the finger pricks anymore.
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Hello Karin, this device is a revolution. Extense is the real solution because it almost works even when the patient is not conscious. It wonderful. Additionally, it is cost effective because the patient does not have to spend money on test strips, lancets, monitors or a CGM device. Your post is very informative.
Dr. Song, A
Thank you for visiting my site, Dr. Song!
I am hoping that the medical profession will embrace this device!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Having to prick your finger multiple times a day would certainly become tiresome! I did see an advertisement for blood glucose monitoring without having to do finger pricks. I’m not sure if it was for the Extense, but it certainly seems like a wonderful idea and perfect for those that hate needles. I would be interested to see if anyone has done a comparison using both at the same time to see if similar readings are given.
Thanks for visiting!
I will be doing a video once I get mine and will show the finger prick method and the result and then the result without a finger prick using the Extense. I think the proof will be evident! 🙂
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
I am so disappointed. My internet is running slow at the moment, so I could not watch the video. I am very curious how this device works. My partner is a diabetic. Overall, he does not do a very good job of managing his diabetes because he hates, hates, hates having to prick his fingers so much. Given his lifestyle, the CGM has not been a viable option for him.
The Extense has got to be the most brilliant, helpful products that anyone has ever developed for diabetics. I truly hope that the results are just as trustworthy as those obtained from the finger prick method. I predict that he is going to want get one as soon as possible, once he gets the ok from his doctor.
I hope you will be able to get your soon.
Hello Sondra,
I am sorry your Internet wasn’t working the best at that time. I hope you’ve been able to return to my site and checkout the videos!
The device has been tested and retested and it is now being shipped out. I can hardly wait to get mine. I hate pricking my fingers all the time. In all likelihood, your partner’s doctor has probably not heard of the Extense. I would suggest showing the doctor the video. Many people are very skeptical that this type of technology actually works, but the Helo company also has a wearable device that not only measures my steps and pulse rate, but also my breath rate and my blood pressure! It uses the same non-invasive technology that is used to test the blood pressure to test the blood sugar. I don’t know how it all works, but it really does! I wore my Helo to a doctor appointment, had my blood pressure done in the traditional way and then tested it on my device and it was extremely accurate! I was really thrilled! I hate the blood pressure cuff! Now I can test my blood pressure any time I want. It also does an ECG test! I had an EKG while at the doctor and the results from my device were virtually the same! I am really looking forward to my Extense.
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Hello,
I found your article to be very informative and very relevant to the diabetic community! My mother is diabetic and her diabetes is being controlled with pills right now, and she is not having to do the insulin shots. But I can tell you right now, I think my mother dislikes the finger pricks more than having diabetes itself. If you ask her she’ll tell you that and she’ll say it’s because she manages her diabetes pretty good and doesn’t want to have to prick her finger to validate how well she is managing it.
I can’t wait to get to her and tell her about the “Helo Extense”, no more pricking her finger, she will definitely be pleased!
Bookmarked your site, to reference it with my mother!
Thank you
Dwilli
Hi. Thanks for visiting my site! I totally feel for your mom’s dislike of the finger pricking! I cringe every single time I do it! There is a ton of information out there about the Extense and I am very excited about it! The finger pricks and even the CGM in my arm are not pleasant.
Have a great day and be sure to check back soon as I will be doing a video when we get our Extense to show how it works!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
That’s great except that is bulky and ugly. I would rather prick my fingers
Hi Sherry. Thanks for visiting my site.
By comparison, the Extense is no bigger than a typical glucose testing kit and probably takes less space than most test kits. If you carry your test kit in your purse or backpack or whatever, the Extense will not take more room than it does with the added bonus—you don’t have to prick your finger! 🙂
If I can answer any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!! Have a great day!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Really solid and informative post. One of my coworkers was mentioning just the other day how he wished there was a simple and effective way in this technological age to not have to prick his finger for blood every time he wanted to check his glucose. Bookmarking this post and sending it his way! Thanks for this. 🙂
Thanks for visiting my site, Eric. I hope if you friend has any questions about the Extense, he will feel free to ask them. Thank you for sharing the information! 🙂
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Thank you for coming up this amazing post, this is the second time am stumbling on your blog and i find every content here highly informative. i think the Helo extense is such a great device as it will sure put an end to the pain that comes with pricking. i hope it is not too expensive and can it be shipped to anywhere in the world?
I’m glad you are finding the information informative and useful, Clement! The Extense is not cheap, but compared to the continued costs of meters, strips and lancets, it is a great bargain! It can be shipped anywhere in the world.
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Thanks for sharing this informative and awesome information I can relate with you prickling in the case of my uncle and I’m very sure he will be glad if I get him Helo Extense ,the features of this product is very great and convincing. Thanks for bringing this to my notice as it will be the best surprise gift for my uncle.
I hope your uncle is able to get an Extense. It will definitely put an end to the prick! I am very excited to get mine.
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Diabetes is a hell out of Disease that is just not lovely at all plus rampant among old ages. But getting pricked just to keep up the status is something I didn’t know or haven’t heard before until this article. Thanks to the writer. This “Helo Extense” should be a good development in tracking the sugar level in the body. But what amazes most it’s just an app that can be installed on smartphone to track the blood sugar level. I need to purchase one. This is gonna save lots of people.
Thanks for visiting the site Kehinde. Yes, diabetes is a very awful disease and more and more people of every age are being diagnosed with it daily. The daily pricking has resulted in callouses on my fingertips making it hurt even more because I have to try to get the needle to go through the thickened skin. I think the Extense will save a lot of lives, too!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Technology really does improve life! Thank you for sharing this information.
I landed on this site a couple of months ago and since you mentioned about this technology that will put an end to finger pricking for blood glucose monitoring, I have been patiently waiting for this day when you will finally reveal it.
As I said in my comment on that post where you talked about diabetics not having to prick themselves again, I am looking for a remedy for my brother-in-law, (my husband’s brother) because we literally feel the pain every time he has to check his blood sugar.
CGM sounds like a brilliant idea. One prick as opposed to about 60 I believe is a thousand times better. Anyway, I will be checking out your review of Continuous Glucose Monitoring to know more and see if this is something my brother-in-law would consider.
Thank again Karin!
Hi Alice and thanks for visiting my site again! I think the Extense could be just the thing you husband’s brother is looking for to test his sugars. I know I am going to really enjoy it once I get mine.
I will be doing a post on the CGM once I am able to get back to the hospital for my return appointment. It has been so cold here that the appointment keeps getting changed!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
interesting and instructive this post;for diabetic sufferers is a real heavenly hand this Helo Extense; The wonderful thing is that you do not have to hurt yourself a few times daily to monitor your blood sugar; only diabetics know this suffering, for me it’s just a piece of information, but, God forbid, I do not have to use it sometime
Thank you for visiting my site, Carmen. I hope you were able to find information that was useful to you. I am glad you do not have to do this. It is really a pain in the fingertips!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
OMG wow I didn’t know that if you have diabetes you have the prick your fingers all the time to get blood sugar levels. The Helo Extense is definitely the way to go! If I were in your shoes I would definitely get it as well and I would spread the word out so more people can take advantage of this technology! It isn’t perfect but hey less pricking and a more relaxing lifestyle – at least that part of your life now that you have diabetes. I hope technology catches up so no more pricking on your fingers or anywhere – or the cure to diabetes would be excellent! Thank you for sharing and for all the information you provided, God bless!
Thanks for visiting, Paul. Yep, I prick my fingers at least 4 times a day to get the readings. With the Extense, I won’t have to anymore! I am really looking forward to receiving mine!
Have a blessed day!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Karin,
What a marvelous breakthrough for Diabetics. I know very well about finger pricks. My son went through the finger prick regimen for years. I think he would have loved this breakthrough. If you can have the numbers and not have to draw blood several times a day –what a wonderful way to free up your day. Most people might not realize how much time this little activity takes-but it does eat up probably one or two hours a day- and that doesn’t even add up the cost per day of the necessary supplies.
I would agree with you, if a person can afford the Continuous Glucose Monitoring device, they should get it asap. I’m assuming it is not very big and it fits on the arm without too much irritation. is it suggested that the device be rotated from one arm to the other? Excellent article, and educational. Thank you for the information.
Thanks for visiting again, Barbara. I think your son would have loved this, too. The daily finger pricking does eat up time and money. It will be nice to not have to do it once I get mine.
I will let you know more about the CGM when I get to a return appointment. It has been so cold here that they keep changing my appointment! I guess you are probably in a similar boat as us with the Polar Vortex!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
I read your website with great interest and found it very informative about the new innovative products that you have demonstrated provide a less invasive method of monitoring blood glucose level without the need for finger pricking. I have a close relative and friend who suffers with this, and may be interested in knowing more about these products. I am sure you will attract a lot of interest in these products in the future as they become more widely promoted. I t would be good to get feedback if any one has already starting using them.
Thanks for visiting my site, Alan. I hope you found information that will be useful to you. If you should have any further questions, please contact me. I will be doing a video in a couple of months when I receive mine just to show how well it works and the accuracy of it.
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
hi Karin,
This is an excellent article about putting an end to the prick and try the extense. My grandmother suffers from diabetes and she hates to pick her finger because everyday it is picking her hand and she will fed up this. Exactly yours idea was great. I will definitely order one for her. I believe that it will be help for the people who are addicted to diabetes and I hope, most of the people like this. Thanks for sharing this article.
Thanks for visiting my site, Arnaiemhasan! Your grandmother will love the Helo Extense! She will no longer have to prick her fingers. It will help her keep better track of her blood sugar readings to help her know what and when to eat, too. If you or your grandmother have any further questions, please feel free to contact me! karin@diabeteshealthnuts.com.
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
This what I call revolution that gadget will be more better than pricking your fingers all the time plus it’s downloading all the information about the blood behavior that is what I will science that . helpful I hope they can be able to produce more divices that can do more than checking blood sugar o our bodies.
Thanks for visiting, Charles. It’s funny you should mention that you hope they will come up with more devices to measure other things in our bodies. The Helo LX can measure your blood pressure, heart rate, breath rate, mood, energy level and more. It’s also an amazing device that can help us live healthier lives.
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
I cannot imagine having to prick myself so often! I’m terrified of needles. My father suffers from Type 2 diabetes as well and sometimes he’ll skip the sticks which I know isn’t the best thing. It seems so surreal to have a device check your glucose without the prick but I guess that’s the advancement of technology. I’ll be sharing this.
Thanks for visiting the site, Tekyia! The Extense truly is a miracle of technology and will help many with Diabetes no longer have to endure the constant pricking!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
My gosh, I’ve been waiting years to stop having to stick my finger and check my levels. Even though I’ve pretty much grown numb to the pokes it is certainly not something I relish and I can’t believe they’re finally starting to make progress with technology that will do it without the pain. This is absolutely amazing.
Next up, a way to automatically deliver the insulin without having to take a shot! I can’t wait until the new wearable devices I’ve seen floating around become the norm and they automatically determine when I need more insulin and simply pump it in on their own!
Craig,
Thanks for visiting my site. It truly is wonderful what they are doing with technology. The man who created the Extense is a diabetic and has to prick his fingers which is what led him to create this technology.
As far as technology to deliver the insulin without giving a shot—i’m sure someone is working on that, too! It sure would save a lot of time figuring things out!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
My grandmother has diabetes. She use to use the OneTouch device to read her blood sugar but she doesn’t anymore because she is tired of pricking her fingers and having to spend $100s of every year for the lancets. I might have to get her these Extense so she can read without much hassle. Thank you for making this review of the product. Glad to know that there is a device that doesn’t prick your fingers to get a reading
Thanks for visiting my site! I definitely feel for everyone who has to prick their fingers. I use a nano device for the blood sugar, but the prick is real and it hurts, builds callouses and is costly! I will be so happy when I get my Extense. I accidentally pulled the CGM device out of my arm the other day… Yikes! Won’t have to worry about that with the Extense!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Your site is awesome. I love the humor, I love the pics and I love how you make this subject understandable even for those who have never had to take a blood sugar reading. You did an awesome job with moving from one section to another and your word visuals are awesome. We can almost see ourselves doing pricks on ourself.
Have a great day and keep up the great work.
Thanks for visiting my site, Larry. I believe in a bit of levity when dealing with conditions such as diabetes. Glad you liked the article! Check back soon! I’ll be talking about the “F” word.
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
What a great life quality improvement.
My dear aunt is a diabetic type 2 patient like you and I hear her a lot complaining about the hassle and pain of having to prick her finger several times a day.
I think she hasn’t heard of the Extense yet and will be pleasantly surprised when I show her this post. I can imagine the pain and inconvenience of not having this excellent tool at hand and think I will help her finance it.
Thank you for visiting my site, Stefan! If your aunt has any questions, please let me know. It sure is a blessing to not have to constantly prick the fingers and still be able to have an accurate reading so I know how I am doing.
Thank you again!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
I just want to say that your site is awesome, your choice of pics are unbelievable an sincere as well. I found it informational, humorous, and easy to read as I moved through it. Great idea, great job writing, and great for drawing us int your story.I found myself laughing as I went through it having worked in the nursing field and helped my mom with her insulin. You did a good job of carrying us through to the point where you recommended the new meter.
Thanks, Larry! It can be a challenge knowing what to write sometimes, but I write from my heart and tell my story.
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
I am reading this with great interest because my mom who’s Type 2, has her blood glucose monitored by me on a weekly basis. She needed aggressive monitoring because I know she has been nibbling on stuff that she shouldn’t. But she totally hates for her finger being pricked. And I am already using the smallest size needle possible.
This is the first time I am hearing of a non-invasive glucometer – if you would called it that, but the price seems very steep indeed. I will certainly consider this once I am done using the strips. Thanks for the product sharing. I am sure my mom would be please to have this.
Thanks for visiting my site, Cathy. Yes, the Extense does cost, but in the long run, it could save way more than it costs. Plus, for me, the best part, no more finger pricking! I will be happy when one day, the Extense can be covered by insurance. It is a Class 1 Medical Device.
If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me again!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Hi Karin,Thank you for your review. After reading your article about this, I remembered how my dear mother pricking her fingers daily. Its painful memory. I am grateful to you for sharing about knowing about this device. Its a real solution for diabetic patients. I think hospital should use this too.Regards, Azaliha
Thank you for visiting my site and for your heartfelt comments, Azaliha. I just want people to know there is another option. The Helo Extense is a Class 1 medical device, but the United States has yet to approve it. I think with enough information out there, they won’t have an option to deny its use since it is so accurate!
I agree, I believe hospitals should use it, too. And it will be a blessing when insurance will cover all or part of the cost.
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Hi Karin, thanks for such an informative piece. I really felt for you on pricking your fingers upto four times in a day. When it comes to finger pricking, I always freak out, (especially during pregnancy) for one test or the other, so I can relate well with that. I was actually happy that there was something that could stop the pain and the mess (Continous Glucose Monitoring) but reading through the cons, I found out it was not the best, then I saw Helo Extense. Helo Extense is truely the best thing that has happened to diabetes patients. So many pros, one might say it is expensive, but between pricking my fingers frequently and using CGM, I would rather go for the Helo Extense.
Thanks for visiting my site, Gracen! Yes, the constant finger pricking is a real pain in the—fingertips! I think the CGM might have been a good option, however, it pulled out of my arm over the weekend! I am very excited to get my Extense and I know it will prove to be not only worth the initial expense, but the annual savings not having to buy all those other supplies. And best of all, no more finger pricking!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
I am happy you will no more prick your fingers manually once more, it’s a significant huge help for you, I can see, I would love to ask if the gadget is for Type2 diabetes only? No information that it’s very well may be utilized for insulin dosing decisions? additionally is there a clinical preliminaries that affirm this gadget gives glucose readings at least comparable in exactness to blood serum glucose levels
Hello Favour, thanks for visiting and for your questions.
The Extense will work for anyone who wants to monitor their blood sugar levels. It certainly could be used for insulin dosing decisions because you can test as much as you want or need to and make your decisions based on the results.
The device was only giving the levels as “low” “good” and “high.” The device will now be able to give the actual numbers just like the finger prick. When the video was made, it only gave the general trend, but those with diabetes know that we can’t rely on that, we need to know the numbers, so they have been working on it for several months now so that it will give the actual number. It’s a great advance! And no more pricking fingers!!!!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Hi Karin,
I am borderline and use a traditional glucose monitor occasionally. I had no idea that something like the Helo Extense was possible. It would be awesome to be able to clip on the Extense to your finger for a few seconds instead of having to prick your finger / worry if you need to check your sugar and not have test strips.
I like how the Extense app records your tests in a log and you don’t have to write the results on paper. Also since multiple people can use the Extense I am sure my wife will use it as well – she is always snatching my blood pressure monitor. 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing this!
The Extense truly is an amazing device. When I get mine I will be doing my own video just to show people how well it works. It does not measure blood pressure, however, but there are a few different Helo devices that do that, too, using the same technology and that is very accurate! I have one of those and highly recommend it! The app records everything for you so it can easily be shown to your doctor and keep us going along very well. And the best part? No more pricking fingers!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂