Best lancing device?

[webpundit]

I've used two lancing devices so far and neither is giving me the kind of samples I need. One is the device that comes with the Freestyle Flash meter (the big one) and the other one is the AccuChek Softclix lancing device. The AccuChek is much better, but I'm tired of having to poke my fingers multiple times to get a good sample. I have so many holes in my fingertips that it's the only thing I allow myself to wallow in self-pity for. Are there any really good lancing devices on the market out there which get out blood without too much pain/ too deep a hole? Any strategies that can help?

[camjen1]

Sorry I don't know the name brand of my lancet but I do know that it came with an old meter of mine and it kinda looks like the one you can buy seperatly at your local Walgreens or pharmacy. Even though I change meters I do not change lancet devices because I feel so comfortable with this one. I do have some tips. Make sure your hands are not cold before testing and hold your hand downward. You can always try using a lancet by itself (ouch), that sure will get you a good sample or you can just steal some from your local hospital cause those will slice your fingertips instead of poke.LOL I should know I have been used as a guinea pig for the last couple weeks.

[KrisinNM]

I have one that came with a meter long ago that I always use. The printing on it is pretty much worn away but think it says Medisense, it is long, white, and has adjustments for depth. The little one that came with the Freestyle belongs in the trash.
My tip: I only put new lancets in about once a year or if I have tested someone else with it. Dull lancets just poke a little hole, not a crater. ;)

[camjen1]

My tip: I only put new lancets in about once a year or if I have tested someone else with it. Dull lancets just poke a little hole, not a crater. ;)


I have to agree on this also. I get so nervous using a new lancet. Alot of people think keeping an old one in is painful but I find it very comforting.

[dixiepixie64]

I like the Accuchek lancet device too but find I wear 'em out quickly for some reason.... :eek:

I have problems with Raynauds so sometimes getting that drop of blood is tough for me too. My doctor has told me I can take medication for it but I refuse because I think I already take too many pills every day for blood pressure, cholesterol, thyroid, etc. Anyway I find that putting my hands in warm water for a minute or two before testing helps restore the circulation and also gets a good result when I use the lancet.

[lgvincent]

I like the OneTouch UltraSoft device. It hurts more than the Accu-Chek SoftClix device, but doesn't leave holes that are as big. I have a hard time getting blood, too. I try washing my hands before pricking my finger and I also rub them briskly and let them hang down while I shake them a few times. It doesn't help a whole lot but short of slicing a finger with a razor or chain saw, I don't know what else to do.

[nantomsuethom]

Thomas was using the vaculance but since he switched to the freestyle flash he uses the "poker" that came with it. He no longer uses his fingers, only his forearms.
He gets plenty of blood for the meter and then some.

[camjen1]

How bout using your toes??? :thumbsup:

[lgvincent]

I've tried my toes a few times but it didn't work out too well. Boy, the folks at the restaurant didn't really take to me removing my shoe and poking my toes for blood that day . . .

I'd like to try the earlobes but haven't yet (my reflection in the mirror scares me and I break every piece of glass I look into).

[daddyo]

I've been using my toes for years the reason My fingers getsore after a while and the neorpathy in my feet is quite bad years of not taking control of my life I'm sure we have all been there. So no pain but a little harder unless your home or it's summertime here But i was told at the hospital once not to use your little finger or your little toe the numbers my not be quite right also heard the same about the forearm thing the best is your finger tips now I use the palm of my hand and the BD meter It's the first meter that said I could do that the BD lancets are extremly sharp and thin don't like them much so I like the rest of us hardly ever change the lancet duller seems less painful for some reason

[am1977]

A couple of suggestions :smartass: . First, I would recommend changing your lancet more frequently. I like using lancets for a long while myself for some odd reason ;) , but I find that it takes multiple lancing to get enough blood :( . The new lancet should be more effective in getting more blood.

The other thing is to try to warm your hands up and get the circulation flowing. My hands usually are cold so it takes washing them in warm water to get them to warm up (which you probably should do anyway :p ).

[KrisinNM]

I like using lancets for a long while myself for some odd reason , but I find that it takes multiple lancing to get enough blood
The Freestyle only needs a drop of blood the size of a pinhead. :thumbsup:

[webpundit]

Thanks for all the replies, guys.

I change lancets everytime I test, so I'm using upto 10 lancets a day. Just like am1977 said, if I use old ones it gets harder to get enough blood. I'm already using the Freestyle Flash, so need a small sample as is. Call me spoilt (rolling eyes)

Anyway, I'm concerned with all the poke holes on my fingertips. Can any of the long-time testers chime in and tell me about how their fingertips are like now after years of testing? I only started monitoring my levels thoroughly three years ago :o

[wes]

I go along with KrisinNM about the Freestyle meter. I use one with a SoftClix lancet device set on 1. Since the Freestyle is a alternative site meter, I also use different sites to prevent pain and hardening of the skin.

[daddyo]

actualy not that bad after 23yrs and 35,940 pokes and I'm a carpenter so my fingers are rough anyway but I can still feel the pokes and they don't look that bad either

[zookeeper671]

No matter what device I use (that allows alternate testing), when I test on my arms I always get a small bruise. Because of this, I stick to using my fingers.

Anyone else have this problem? or do I just have weird arms?

(The device I like and have been using for quite a while is the lancer that came with my Freestyle Flash.)

[jeggeman31]

, when I test on my arms I always get a small bruise.

I had the same problem. I now test on the palm of my hand

[ang]

i just use the one touch ultrasoft that comes with the meters now. i only use it on my fingers (particularly my middle and ring on my left or the middle and ring on my right when i can't get anything on the left) on the deepest setting and i change my lancet each time and never really have a problem with getting a sample (3 tries max ... not a problem for me) or with pain. i've been testing on these fingers for 19 years and i think i've lost all sensation in the areas where i test. i test right on the juicy pad! but since i've started the pump i've been testing my sugar ALOT and i'm afraid i might have to give my poor fingies a break and maybe try my pointer or pinkie. but i'm scared! i remember this one lancing device i had that i got for free when i went to camp. i think it was from monoject and you used your finger pushing on where the lancet came out to activate it. i only used it a couple of times because it bruised my fingers and hurt like ****! and just the thought of the ones they used in the hospital when i was first diagnosed sends shivers down my spine.

[nantomsuethom]

Thomas will occassionally get a bruise on his arm but not all the time.

When he was checking his bgs 20+ times a day (my very first post here :) ) his endo told him to switch to his arms because his fingers were full of holes. Now we can't get him to go back to his fingers.

[happypumper]

Thanks for all the replies, guys.

I change lancets everytime I test, so I'm using upto 10 lancets a day.

:o


I change lancets often: about 2 or 3 times a YEAR. :)
I test about 15 times in 24 hours.

Dave

[camjen1]

I change lancets often: about 2 or 3 times a YEAR. :)


Dave


Why are you changing so often?? LMAO :thumbsup:

[KrisinNM]

Can any of the long-time testers chime in and tell me about how their fingertips are like now after years of testing
Let's put it this way: sometimes I don't need to use the lancer, just squeeze any finger and I can get a drop of blood. :eek: I used to do lots of hand quilting, had to wear a thimble because the end of the quilting needle kept lodging in all the poke holes :eek: :eek:
when I test on my arms I always get a small bruise.
one time my endo's assistant and the CDE set up all the free meters they had and proceded to test each one using fingers and arm for each meter. Assistant told me she had bruises all up and down her arms and none of the meters gave the same value. ;)

[Shalyndria]

Anyway, I'm concerned with all the poke holes on my fingertips. Can any of the long-time testers chime in and tell me about how their fingertips are like now after years of testing? I only started monitoring my levels thoroughly three years ago :o

I've been testing for 14 years, at least 10 x daily, and I can hardly see the spots where I test. Never hurts, no calluses, I have full sensation and I always get ample blood. I attribute this to the fact that I wash my hands A LOT (I'm almost anal about it lol) and I use hand cream after each wash, and also whenever I feel my hands are getting slightly dry. I also use a new lancet each and every time I test, and I try to rotate fingers as often as possible. I set my lancing device on the shallowest depth, and use the BD Ultra-fine 33G Lancets.

Shy

[gettingby]

Anyway, I'm concerned with all the poke holes on my fingertips. Can any of the long-time testers chime in and tell me about how their fingertips are like now after years of testing? I only started monitoring my levels thoroughly three years ago :o
I have been testing for 20+ years and it's not so bad. I can see the places that the lancets leave but they don't hurt. :D
Hope that helps.

[Funnygrl]

I love my softclix. I use that for fingersticks and any device I have handy for alternative sites, since I never feel them. My fingers are very sensitive though. I use alternative sites whenever possible, because I hate finger sticks. I get little bruises, but I don't care. My palm hurts even more than my fingers.

[webpundit]

Let's put it this way: sometimes I don't need to use the lancer, just squeeze any finger and I can get a drop of blood. :eek: I used to do lots of hand quilting, had to wear a thimble because the end of the quilting needle kept lodging in all the poke holes

No way!!!!! Please tell me you're joking :confused:

I hope it's not that bad. And for the others, I'm glad all those years of poking have still kept your little helpers in good shape. Shy, I might do like you do and get anal about keeping my hands moisturized and clean too :)

[Dewey]

No way!!!!! Please tell me you're joking :confused:

I hope it's not that bad. And for the others, I'm glad all those years of poking have still kept your little helpers in good shape. Shy, I might do like you do and get anal about keeping my hands moisturized and clean too :)

Changing lancets each time & rotating where you poke are great ways to avoid callouses...I tend to use only my ring and pinky fingers (as they hurt the least). Doing that (along with not changing my lancet very often...lol) has earned me some nice callouses....:whistling

[buzzborne]

I tend to use only my ring and pinky fingers (as they hurt the least). Doing that (along with not changing my lancet very often...lol) has earned me some nice callouses....:whistling

I'm the same, also other than hurting the least, I find that they give out the most blood lol.

I use either the soft touch device... (got it when was 1st diagnosed, and not sure who the company that makes it is...) or I use the accucheck soft clix.

[zookeeper671]

Let's put it this way: sometimes I don't need to use the lancer, just squeeze any finger and I can get a drop of blood.

Reminds me of the time I poked my finger and for some reason didn't get to using the "hole" until it had just clotted. Not wanting to re-poke, I gave the finger a squeeze and this foot-long, small stream of blood shot out into the air like a fountain. Freaked me out a bit. http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/confused/1/confused65.gif

[Funnygrl]

I use either the soft touch device... (got it when was 1st diagnosed, and not sure who the company that makes it is...) or I use the accucheck soft clix.


The soft touch is the predecessor to the softclix and is similar to a lot of devices.