The Finger Prick That Saved My Life: Why You Shouldn't Skip Your Biometric Screening

A simple decision to sign up for the biometric screening may have saved my life. Without the screening, I might not have discovered that I’m a type 2 diabetic until it became a serious, life-threatening emergency. My hope is that my experience inspires you to take proactive steps for your health as well.

Initially, I signed up to get an extra $125 in my paycheck. Who doesn’t love a little extra money in their bank account? I saw the screening as an easy way to get healthier and lean into self-care while earning a bonus. Before the screening, I hadn’t had any blood work or appointments in a while. The pandemic made it easy to neglect regular check-ups, and being neurodivergent, I didn’t recognize many physical signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes that might have been red flags for my primary care provider (PCP).

The Screening

I did my screening on a Saturday morning at the YMCA close to home. The screening was simple enough—step on a scale, take some measurements, prick your finger—but that little drop of blood changed everything. My fasting glucose was alarmingly high for someone who didn’t have diabetes—over 300. That number meant nothing to me at the time, but I could sense a shift in the nurse who was educating me about each of my results in real time. She asked if I was diabetic. I said, “I don’t think so.” She was concerned and taught me about the signs and symptoms of hyperglycemia before recommending that I call my doctor first thing Monday morning.

Determined to be proactive, I went to the drugstore on the way home and bought a glucose meter. I hoped that I would test over the weekend and the high reading at my screening was just a fluke. Unfortunately, it wasn't and I was on the phone with my primary care provider's office first thing Monday to schedule an appointment for later that week.

The ER Visit

Monday night, my blood sugar spiked into the 400s. I didn’t feel right, and my husband recognized some of those hyperglycemia symptoms the nurse had shared at the screening. I was scared, so we made our way to the ER. I met with several doctors, nurses, and a diabetes educator throughout the night. I learned that damage to the blood vessels can start with A1C levels above 7 percent, and the risk of significant long-term complications like blindness, nerve damage, heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. My A1C was 11.4.

I received numerous insulin shots, but my sugar levels just weren’t responding, and I was admitted as soon as a bed was available.

After a short stay at Strong, I went home and felt immediately overwhelmed by my new routine: multiple daily insulin shots, a weekly Trulicity shot, metformin pills, and a continuous glucose monitor implanted in my arm. I was assigned a provider at the endocrinology office at URMC and signed up for the diabetes management program with the Well-U Employee Wellness program. I felt raw, both physically and emotionally.

The Results

Reflecting on this experience, I realize that I was in a dangerous place with my blood sugar. If not for the screening, I worry I could have gone to the ED in the back of an ambulance in a far more dangerous state, or that my health may have simply continued to deteriorate until permanent damage was done.

It’s been about two years since then. My A1C is now 5.7, exactly half of where I started. I no longer need insulin and my monitoring continues to look pretty awesome. I’ve lost weight and am better educated about carbs, protein, fat, and sugar. It really spurred a shift in the way I experience my body and therefore, how I care for it.

I’m incredibly grateful for the biometric screening and the Well-U diabetes management program. They didn’t just change my life, they likely saved it. If you’ve been putting off your screening, I urge you to reconsider. It might just be the best decision you make for your health.

Take care and stay healthy.

—Ashley M., copywriter at URMC

About the biometric screening:

A biometric screening is an easy method of assessing your risk for potential health conditions by measuring your height, weight, abdominal girth, and body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and heart rate, total lipid panel–including total cholesterol, high density lipoproteins (HDL), non-HDL, low density lipoproteins (LDL), and triglycerides–and blood glucose. At your scheduled appointment, a registered nurse will perform a finger stick to obtain a small sample of blood which is analyzed using on-site technology. The results are available within minutes.

Schedule your biometric screening:

Biometric screenings are available at no cost to eligible individuals enrolled in a University health care plan. Clinics are available at convenient locations throughout the year, including Café 601, Flaum Atrium, Helen Wood Hall, River Campus, and YMCA’s. Request a clinic for your department if you have 10 or more participants. For more information and to book your appointment: https://urwell.rochester.edu, 585-275-6810.