Lancets

American Diabetic Supply realizes that testing your blood sugar repeatedly can lead to some very sore fingers. We would like to guide you through some steps which may help you reduce the "ouch" level of your lancet. All of our meters come with lancing devices. Most are adjustable, so you can change the level of penetration to suit your comfort level. We recommend you start with the middle setting, though.

The difference in the various lancets depends on their gauges. The higher the number, the smaller the needle. Many people find the smaller gauge lancets do relieve much of the sting. Others still prefer to use a larger gauge lancet.

Your Guide to Minimizing the Lancet Sting
Most new diabetics do not realize they should avoid lancing the tip of their finger, or the fatty pad area. This is where most nerve endings are located. You should try to lancet toward the sides of your fingers as much as possible. You should look at your hands as 20 different sites for lancing. Simply start with your thumb and rotate each check from inside to outside. This will greatly reduce soreness.

If you seem to have difficulty getting enough blood for your test, you may want to try washing your hands in very warm water prior to lancing. This will promote blood circulation. You can also try shaking your hands or rubbing them prior to lancing. As a last resort, you can always adjust your lancet to a stronger depth penetration level.