Comments on: The Pelikan Challenge http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/04/the-pelikan-cha.html A gold mine of straight talk and encouragement for people living with diabetes Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:38:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Bruce http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/04/the-pelikan-cha.html/comment-page-1#comment-476596 Bruce Thu, 11 Feb 2010 06:20:43 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2008/04/03/the-pelikan-challenge/#comment-476596 It's been discontinued, which is very disturbing because this was such an amazing product. I've become very dependent on it and really hate the idea of reverting to conventional lancing technology. It’s been discontinued, which is very disturbing because this was such an amazing product. I’ve become very dependent on it and really hate the idea of reverting to conventional lancing technology.

]]> By: Brandy http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/04/the-pelikan-cha.html/comment-page-1#comment-353910 Brandy Sat, 18 Jul 2009 05:11:56 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2008/04/03/the-pelikan-challenge/#comment-353910 We purchsed the pelikan sun for my 4 year old son about 1 1/2 years ago. This product is amazing. He barley feels anything with the Pelikan and night time testing has become even easier, he never even flinches. I think that the price is fair and our insurance actually covers the cost of the device and the lancets. I will only use his old lancing device when we are out an about, beacuse of the fear of loosing the pelikan (it has become our life line at home). His old lancing device is used very rarley and you can definately see a large difference between the two. The old one hurts and leaves marks on on his fingers, the pelikan does none of these. I recommend the pelikan to everyone that I come in contact with. If one thing can make the life of someone with Diabetes a lttle easier then why not try it. Thank you Pelikan Sun! We purchsed the pelikan sun for my 4 year old son about 1 1/2 years ago. This product is amazing. He barley feels anything with the Pelikan and night time testing has become even easier, he never even flinches. I think that the price is fair and our insurance actually covers the cost of the device and the lancets. I will only use his old lancing device when we are out an about, beacuse of the fear of loosing the pelikan (it has become our life line at home). His old lancing device is used very rarley and you can definately see a large difference between the two. The old one hurts and leaves marks on on his fingers, the pelikan does none of these. I recommend the pelikan to everyone that I come in contact with. If one thing can make the life of someone with Diabetes a lttle easier then why not try it. Thank you Pelikan Sun!

]]> By: Leslie http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/04/the-pelikan-cha.html/comment-page-1#comment-337169 Leslie Fri, 29 May 2009 17:40:50 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2008/04/03/the-pelikan-challenge/#comment-337169 That was harsh, Gary! A $200 lancing device is not a necessity! Besides, someone who is unemployed would probably rather not pay $15/cartridge. That was harsh, Gary! A $200 lancing device is not a necessity! Besides, someone who is unemployed would probably rather not pay $15/cartridge.

]]> By: Gary http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/04/the-pelikan-cha.html/comment-page-1#comment-331236 Gary Sat, 09 May 2009 12:10:46 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2008/04/03/the-pelikan-challenge/#comment-331236 There's a reason why these folks don't distribute through normal durable medical goods suppliers; MONEY. We're fortunate in that our insurance company would reimburse for all, including shipping. That took about a months worth of work on my part. There was the potential for Pelikan to make a lot of money with the contact information I would have offered; ours is a major carrier and the door would have been wide open. Given the current economy, especially in durable medical equipment, I would have thought that this might have been worth something. Well, one of their management team left a message thanking me and proffering "any help" he could provide. I took that at face value and asked for a device gratis, for a friend who had recently lost her job. He replied that he had some "cost constraints" on his end (read; he wasn't going to get his commission) This, after I agreed to buy the device for my wife and be locked in to purchasing their proprietary lancets ad infinitum. Needless to say, he didn't care to help. Needless to say, I didn't purchase. The moral to this story; there is an arrogance within these niche companies that is both disturbing and disgusting. Be forewarned. There’s a reason why these folks don’t distribute through normal durable medical goods suppliers; MONEY.

We’re fortunate in that our insurance company would reimburse for all, including shipping. That took about a months worth of work on my part. There was the potential for Pelikan to make a lot of money with the contact information I would have offered; ours is a major carrier and the door would have been wide open. Given the current economy, especially in durable medical equipment, I would have thought that this might have been worth something.

Well, one of their management team left a message thanking me and proffering “any help” he could provide. I took that at face value and asked for a device gratis, for a friend who had recently lost her job. He replied that he had some “cost constraints” on his end (read; he wasn’t going to get his commission) This, after I agreed to buy the device for my wife and be locked in to purchasing their proprietary lancets ad infinitum.

Needless to say, he didn’t care to help. Needless to say, I didn’t purchase.

The moral to this story; there is an arrogance within these niche companies that is both disturbing and disgusting. Be forewarned.

]]> By: Scott http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/04/the-pelikan-cha.html/comment-page-1#comment-40572 Scott Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:07:53 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2008/04/03/the-pelikan-challenge/#comment-40572 Amy, just a follow-up: First, your fingers look much like mine do (although I've had diabetes for 28 years more than you have), and I suspect that some people are more prone to this than others. Florian's comment is probably accurate especially with regards to spring-loaded lancet devices, and probably also about gently tapping the side of the finger tip with a new BD 33ga lancet for each test but I often test on the run and don't have the luxury of time to get a brand new lancet, pierce around the edge of my finger and all of these recommendations -- they probably work, but aren't exactly made for busy people. For me, the biggest issue is that few lancet devices enable great precision on where the piercing will occur, and I'd be curious if Pelican delivers on that. Finally, did the company ever respond to the my comment about having a loaner device program like the pump companies provide? As I said, there's no way to replicate the experience of "test driving" one of these devices and that might convince others its worth trying! Amy, just a follow-up:

First, your fingers look much like mine do (although I’ve had diabetes for 28 years more than you have), and I suspect that some people are more prone to this than others.

Florian’s comment is probably accurate especially with regards to spring-loaded lancet devices, and probably also about gently tapping the side of the finger tip with a new BD 33ga lancet for each test but I often test on the run and don’t have the luxury of time to get a brand new lancet, pierce around the edge of my finger and all of these recommendations — they probably work, but aren’t exactly made for busy people. For me, the biggest issue is that few lancet devices enable great precision on where the piercing will occur, and I’d be curious if Pelican delivers on that.

Finally, did the company ever respond to the my comment about having a loaner device program like the pump companies provide? As I said, there’s no way to replicate the experience of “test driving” one of these devices and that might convince others its worth trying!

]]> By: karin http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/04/the-pelikan-cha.html/comment-page-1#comment-40571 karin Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:56:06 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2008/04/03/the-pelikan-challenge/#comment-40571 Sent a link to their site to my CDE as soon as I read this! She called and I can't wait until it comes in!!! Sent a link to their site to my CDE as soon as I read this! She called and I can’t wait until it comes in!!!

]]> By: Brady http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/04/the-pelikan-cha.html/comment-page-1#comment-40570 Brady Mon, 07 Apr 2008 07:02:20 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2008/04/03/the-pelikan-challenge/#comment-40570 I've only been a diabetic for 4 years, but Amy - you really should lance on the side of your fingers. It's much less painful, and the blood flow is actually better. I agree with the above poster who doesn't get any pain from old lancets, though - I rarely change lancets, and when I do, I don't really notice much of a difference. In other news, if you want a laugh: <a target="_blank" href="http://thepiratebay.org/tor/4084385/" rel="nofollow">http://thepiratebay.org/tor/4084385/</a> I’ve only been a diabetic for 4 years, but Amy – you really should lance on the side of your fingers. It’s much less painful, and the blood flow is actually better. I agree with the above poster who doesn’t get any pain from old lancets, though – I rarely change lancets, and when I do, I don’t really notice much of a difference.

In other news, if you want a laugh: http://thepiratebay.org/tor/4084385/

]]> By: Jef http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/04/the-pelikan-cha.html/comment-page-1#comment-40569 Jef Mon, 07 Apr 2008 06:07:27 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2008/04/03/the-pelikan-challenge/#comment-40569 Is lancing really all that bad? With the BD lancets there is no pain, even with a three month old lancet there is no pain. I have a hard time getting excited about products like these. $200 for a device + $15 for 100 lancets that aren't reusable really doesn't sound like a deal to me, even if it did hurt. Is lancing really all that bad? With the BD lancets there is no pain, even with a three month old lancet there is no pain.

I have a hard time getting excited about products like these. $200 for a device + $15 for 100 lancets that aren’t reusable really doesn’t sound like a deal to me, even if it did hurt.

]]> By: Bennet http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/04/the-pelikan-cha.html/comment-page-1#comment-40568 Bennet Sat, 05 Apr 2008 20:45:49 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2008/04/03/the-pelikan-challenge/#comment-40568 There is a hread about this thing over at CWD <a target="_blank" href="http://forums.childrenwithdiabetes.com/showthread.php?t=11844" rel="nofollow">http://forums.childrenwithdiabetes.com/showthread.php?t=11844</a> There is a hread about this thing over at CWD

http://forums.childrenwithdiabetes.com/showthread.php?t=11844

]]> By: AmyT http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/04/the-pelikan-cha.html/comment-page-1#comment-40567 AmyT Sat, 05 Apr 2008 18:45:48 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2008/04/03/the-pelikan-challenge/#comment-40567 On the theft issue, I'm actually finding it kind of amusing -- picturing the thieves getting the Pelkian device home and then standing on their heads trying to figure out what this thing is good for: darn, it doesn't play MP3s...! On the theft issue, I’m actually finding it kind of amusing — picturing the thieves getting the Pelkian device home and then standing on their heads trying to figure out what this thing is good for: darn, it doesn’t play MP3s…!

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