Bountyman
10-26-2009, 07:07 PM
Been using the Bayer Microlet2 lancet launcher since I got diagnosed with type 1 this last July. I'm on Medicare so right out of the hospital and to the pharmacy they loaded me up with the Bayer Contour meter, which comes with the Microlet2 lancet laucher (what an innocuous name for such a cruel device). Along with some oral meds they also loaded me up with a 100 box of 1/2" 29G syringes and a vial of Lantus.
Go figure, all my life I've had Trypanophobia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trypanophobia) and now I have to stick myself three times a day and inject myself once a day. Yeah, I know, could be worse...but honestly I'd rather take a punch to the face than a test to my finger.
After a month of fiddling with the syringe/vial thing my PA put me on the SoloSTAR pen. Neat little device, and I ordered up the 3/16" 31G needles. I'm a little anxious when it gets close to insulin time...but I'm getting better. Sometimes I get so anxious I inject myself an hour earlier just to get the darn thing over with. Anyway...to my question.
The Microlet2 lancets have really thick needles. I swear, I could use the used ones for push pins on a bulletin board. I busted out my 1-inch micrometer and measured the needle size on one of my used pen needles. They're 31 gauge and they're .010 of an inch. Then I mic'd the lancet. .014! Too big! That's just too big. When I was doing body & fender work my hands and fingers were pretty calloused. That was then, this is now. I remember someone, somewhere mentioning a lancing device that had lancet needles that were 33 gauge, but I can't remember who made that lancet along with their glucose meter. Oh, the lancets came in a 6-pack barrel, I think. I'm ready to switch as soon as this new 100 count box of lancets I got last Friday run out (or they get contaminated from an accidental kitchen chemical spill.) :)
Anybody?
Go figure, all my life I've had Trypanophobia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trypanophobia) and now I have to stick myself three times a day and inject myself once a day. Yeah, I know, could be worse...but honestly I'd rather take a punch to the face than a test to my finger.
After a month of fiddling with the syringe/vial thing my PA put me on the SoloSTAR pen. Neat little device, and I ordered up the 3/16" 31G needles. I'm a little anxious when it gets close to insulin time...but I'm getting better. Sometimes I get so anxious I inject myself an hour earlier just to get the darn thing over with. Anyway...to my question.
The Microlet2 lancets have really thick needles. I swear, I could use the used ones for push pins on a bulletin board. I busted out my 1-inch micrometer and measured the needle size on one of my used pen needles. They're 31 gauge and they're .010 of an inch. Then I mic'd the lancet. .014! Too big! That's just too big. When I was doing body & fender work my hands and fingers were pretty calloused. That was then, this is now. I remember someone, somewhere mentioning a lancing device that had lancet needles that were 33 gauge, but I can't remember who made that lancet along with their glucose meter. Oh, the lancets came in a 6-pack barrel, I think. I'm ready to switch as soon as this new 100 count box of lancets I got last Friday run out (or they get contaminated from an accidental kitchen chemical spill.) :)
Anybody?