Blimey, I've never cleaned my finger with a swab. Just used water.

When I was first diagnosed, I tested my blood daily. Then, I realised that for me, this was silly. I didn't want to end up being paranoid about blood sugar levels. They change, all the time, in many of us.

If my reading read 10 or above, I went out for a walk...I got into the habit of walking all the time, riding my bike..and that keeps things under control. I refuse to be a slave to the blood testing thingummyjig. So I've replaced all that stuff with exercise. Much more fun and it doesn't hurt so much.

Yes, I test now and then, just to be on the safe side, but in 6 years it's all been OK.

I guess Diabetes is a money spinner, same as blood pressure and so many more medical conditions.   Invent the gadget, then sell it to the people through fear...We can all end up neurotic...and broke. The trick is to remember that diabetics were still keeping healthy and surviving, long before they had blood monitoring kits.

And I'm writing this through blurry eyes after having my retinopathy test..

Apparently, large pupils are supposed to be sexy, but I think waking into walls and tripping over things kinda kills the sex appeal off a little!   ;0)