A couple of suggestions:

1.    Wash your hands is warm water - concentrate on massaging the finger
you are going         to stick,

2.    Point your fingers at the floor and vigorously shake your hand.

This may put enough blood in your fingers to get an adequate stick.

Dick T2

It often helps to turn the drop upwards, so it isn't trying to run
to one side.

How long has it been since you changed lancets? That is a problem I have
when mine start getting dull.

We each probably have our own methods of how best to get all those
blood drops we need to test our bg.  I test anwhere from 6 to 8 times
a day so I am a major prick. :)  When I got my first meter it required
a lot of blood (or so it seemed) in order to test but the new meters
don't need much at all.  Not sure what meter you are using, but you
might want to check around to find one that uses the smallest sample
possible.  I use the One Touch Ultra and that doesn't need much.  I
have also become a real dairy farmer when it comes to finger sticks
and employ the "stick and milk" method...after sticking, if I don't
get more than a bead of blood on my finger I squeeze the area near the
puncture until a bigger bead of blood forms.

Here's a video that might have a couple of tips you can use.  And, as
with everything diabetic, make sure to seek the advice of a healthcare
professional.  Not sure how new you are to diabetes, but large cities
have some kind of support groups where you can meet and compare notes
with other diabetics and are usually overseen by a CDE.  You might
want to check www.diabetes.org for more specifics.  Here's the link to
the video...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=aTZTKub_wxI

Kurt

Willa, I usually stick pinky and ring fingers because I can push blood to
the end of my finger with the thumb on the same hand I am pricking. I also
press the pen fairly hard against my finger before releasing the lancet into
the finger but lower the number on the pen device so I don't bore through to
the other side ;)

I've been testing using the following method for years.

Get an elastic ponytail holder.  A dark colored one is best because if you
get any blood on it, it won't show.  Get the ones that look sort of like
fabric and not the rubber band kind because these are kinder to the skin.

Decide which finger you want to prick.  My pinkies work the best.  Wrap the
elastic around the bendy part of your finger.  Wrap it only tightly enough
to stay on and not too tightly.  Then prick.

As soon as you've pricked, pull on the band to tighten it.  I sometimes have
to press the pad of my finger into something hard, like the back of my
lancing device.  The blood will usually pop right out.  Occasionally I'll
have to do a second prick, but this is usually enough.

It's very weird that you have this issue on one side, and not the
other. I think in your place I'd mention it to your doc next time you
see one, just in case it's symptomatic of worrisome changes to your
blood supply on the left.

In the meantime, I'm wondering whether you're using the easiest meter
- some of the microdrop meters need tiny amounts of blood; or maybe
you need the kind of strip that allows you to do multiple passes until
it's got enough to read, so that you could scrape smeared blood from
your skin. I suspect that if you phoned any of the major meter
manufacturers and explained your problem, that they'd be glad to
advise and possibly give you a meter to try.

Nicky.
T2 dx 05/04 + underactive thyroid
D&E, 100ug thyroxine
Last A1c 5.6%  BMI 25