Lancets for Diabetics Part 1

Diabetic individuals unfortunately have to monitor their blood glucose levels on a regular basis. The only way to get blood is by piercing the skin with a lancet. Unlike the olden days when the lancets were large and cumbersome, the present day lancets are small, sharp and are much less painful.

Lancets are graded based on their gauge. The gauge essentially refers to width of the metal tip. The higher the gauge, the smaller the knick or perforation the lancet makes. In general, lancets with a higher gauge number are much less painful, but on the other hand since they do not penetrate the skin deep, the amount of blood obtained is much less.

Lancets can be used alone or with a lancing device. Using a lancet alone is painful because the depth of the jab can not be controlled. The lancet devices come with a mechanism such that the knife is suddenly released and retracts. The depth of penetration can also be adjusted. If the skin is thick, one has to allow for deeper penetration. Use of lancet devices is much less painful than using the lancet alone.

Today, whenever you buy a blood glucose monitor, a lancet device is almost always included in the kit. All lancet devices come with short and long lancet covers which allow for different degree of penetration in the skin. Individual who have thin skin, children or elderly with delicate skin usually need superficial penetration. Those with hard and thick skin need deeper penetration. Sometimes one may have to use a different depth of penetration on different fingers.

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