Le Lance.
You know what we really don’t spend any time talking about in the diabetes world? Lancing devices. I’m guessing because it feels like there’s not too many differences between them, and they’re not crazy-town expensive like test strips are, nor do they do anything as cool as our CGMs and pumps. Also, they’re kind of boring. And invoke pain. Ew.
Yet, we all use them. I calibrate my CGM twice a day with a traditional finger stick and I don’t do it with a butter knife. For the past year, I’ve been using what can only be described as the most ghetto lancing situation possible: a duct-taped, rickety old version of the Accu-Chek Multi Clik. The cap had broken (twice) but the tape held it together just fine and hey, the thing worked so whatever, right? Also, even though every single pharmacy and grocery store carried the lancets, absolutely no one had the actual lancing device. So I would always ask the pharmacist if they had one in every Target/Walgreens/Safeway/Fred Meyer/CVS I went to, but to no success.
Until finally a super-nice pharmacist must have noticed my disappointment at yet another failed mission and said “let me see if I can order it for you.”
Turns out she could, and although it seemed pretty expensive ($29.99), I really really like that lancing device. The numbers showing the depth of the lance had all rubbed off my old one, making it a creepy game of finger-poke roulette every time you wanted to change the setting. Plus the duct tape, although functional, certainly didn’t look good. So she ordered me a new one, which qualified for free shipping directly to my house (always a plus, and I feel like totally warranted on a $30 spring-loaded hunk of plastic).
And just like that, I done upgraded my finger-stick game. So fresh!
Do you guys have a favorite lancing device? Or will you use any old thang?
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Comments
I love the Multi-Clik!! After I switched from the meter it originally came with it has followed me through two more meters. I think I change lancets more often (still not nearly as often as I probably should) Because you can just rotate through the cartridge. And there is no risk of inadvertent pokes when you change it out either. Glad to know I’m not the only one!
I agree! The Accu-check Multi-clik is my favorite. It actually seems to hurt less. Unfortunately I lost mine, along with a meter that I left in a restaurant near Detroit Tiger Stadium (Comerica Park). I haven’t got around to replacing it yet and I’m using one of the more “typical” lancing device that I’ve collected over the years. The Multi Clik also makes it easier to change to a new lancet, which I don’t do as often as you’re supposed to (maybe that has something to do with why it hurts more…ya think?).
I dig the One Touch Delica.. ALmost never hurts, usually gets a nice fat drop.
Also, let me know when/if you need a new lancet device! I am surrounded by them, and can just send you one!!
Soft-Clix. The precurser to that accursed Multi-Clix of DOOOOOM! About half the size (and admittedly, only one lancet), but it works better and is nicer and smaller and fantastic.
And I got a second one hidden in a drawer (somewhere - hope I find it) for when the first one breaks. Which it will, eventually, as it doesn’t even lock the lancet in the “dangerous and loaded” position any more.
Accu-Chek Multiclix, mostly because I got a ton of lancets for them during a research project where I was a control patient. I’ve still got a LOT of them left!