Comments on: Alternative Prickers

By: Scott Powell

Scott Powell — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 23:10:58 +0000

I think I might give this a try. I agree whole-heartedly with the “I want a cure, not a better mousetrap”.

That’s great…but a cure is still a LONG ways away. In the meantime, I’ll take the better mousetrap.

IMO,
Scott

By: Suzy Smith

Suzy Smith — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 06:53:51 +0000

“If your goal is low pain lancing (on average because of course some sticks hurt worse than others at the same setting) and better wound healing, starting out with a fresh lancet every time will give you the best chance for success.”

I was about to mention this. I have noticed that if I change the lancet every time it is much less painful, and I have extremely sensitive fingertips to the point that I have to force myself to hit that damn button, every single time of the multiple times a day.

By: Florian

Florian — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 22:31:21 +0000

I’ve been testing since the early 80’s when I got my first glucometer so its been a long time. Now I just have to squeeze the end of my finger for a microliter of blood and I’m good to go. Only kidding.

I use the BD Ultra 33 Lancet by itself no spring loaded lancet device. I test at least 10 times a day, not to see how I am doing but to find out if my pump is delivering insulin and holding my blood sugar steady and near normal.

Many have mentioned calloused finger tips. I believe that is from using dull lancets (which happens quickly) and having to set and keep the depth of penetration too deep to puncture the skin and score blood. The lancet hits the finger tip with a lot of force leaving a minor bruise and lots of skin damage.

My fingers (I use the side tips) are in excellent shape with no bruises or callouses.

Florian (T1, dx 1967)
Animas 2020 + Apidra

By: MagicJ

MagicJ — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 17:18:47 +0000

One thing that the Pelikan Sun and the Renew device (although I’m less sure about the Renew device) are trying to do is eliminate the re-use of lancets.

Today’s lancets are EXTREMELY sharp, and a new one will make a nice clean cut. But they dull quickly. Over several repeated uses, that nice ultra-pointy tip will have bent over and turned into a barb.

If your goal is low pain lancing (on average because of course some sticks hurt worse than others at the same setting) and better wound healing, starting out with a fresh lancet every time will give you the best chance for success.

By: AmyT

AmyT — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 02:53:22 +0000

Hey Guys,

I always tell the newly diagnosed that the one extra thing they should always carry when traveling is a 2nd lancing device. What else are you going to use to poke yourself? A safety pin? Yuck! I need something more “clinical.”

By: Lauren

Lauren — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 02:37:38 +0000

Kelly, you are brave. When my lancing device broke and I was forced to stab my finger with a naked lancet, I had to work up the courage each time.

I have so much respect for those “diabetes veterans” who were diagnosed in the years before glucometers. (My type 1 aunt is one such person — she is now pushing 60.) I remember learning about Benedict’s test in my biochemistry class, long before my own diagnosis, and thinking how archaic and wildly inaccurate it seemed. Thank God for the technology we do have. Without the tools we can now avail ourselves of, I wouldn’t be able to cope with the demands of diabetes and medical school.

By: Kelly Kunik

Kelly Kunik — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:40:18 +0000

To be honest, I don’t use a lancing devise,I just prick myself with the lance. I don’t have time for one.
I take at least 10 blood sugars a day and dealing with yet another piece if diabetes hardware is one more thing I have to carry.

Call me crazy, but it’s true!

Still – both devices are nice looking, if my doctor gave me samples of each, I might try them.

Thanks for the heads up!
Kelly K

By: Dan Fahey

Dan Fahey — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:28:09 +0000

I’ve never found the automated lancet devices to be worth it.
If someone tests often, one’s fingers become quite callused, so it’s hard to imagine being able to use the “lightest” setting and have that consistently work.
To me, lancing is the least of the issues for a diabetic.
I probably use one lancet for 2 days [or about 30 "stickings"].

By: Kevin

Kevin — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:39:47 +0000

Hands down (fingers down?), the best lancet device I’ve used is the Accu-Chek Softclix (sic). It’s compact (much more so than the Multiclix that has received so much attention), virtually painless, and can be “cocked” and fired single-handed. I’ve bought Accu-Chek meters JUST FOR THIS LANCING DEVICE.

How messed up is that? A meter with lancing device often sells for less than the lancing device on its own. Pretty wasteful, I know, but I’m just responding to the basic price incentives.

By: JasonJayhawk

JasonJayhawk — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 05:22:24 +0000

I think the Peklikan Sun will go out of business. They can’t possibily have the reps to sell this to the endocrinologists to sell to the patients. The insurance companies will see it as too expensive, especially with “replacement cartridges.” I would figure that a laser would provide unlimited usage, so I’m not sure I understand the replacement cartridges for it.

Ah HAH! Upon checking their press release, it looks like they’re going into blood glucose testing markets. I wish all the luck to them; the more competition out there, the more pressure there is to keep prices fair for any cash-paying Type 1’s test strips.