What You Should Know About Using Lancets for Diabetes Care

Are you living with diabetes or do you have a loved one who is diabetic and is completely terrified of needles? Living with diabetes involves using needles almost on a daily basis since you must inject insulin into your body or check your blood glucose levels.

If you are afraid of needles, taking care of this condition can be quite a challenge. However, with the PipLancets you will barely feel any pain at all and you can reduce the anxiety and fear that needles bring.

Here are the 5 things you should know about using safety lancets for diabetes care.

measuring blood sugar
Measuring blood sugar; image source: pexels.com

 

Not all lancets are the same

The general purpose of lancets is to prick the skin to collect a blood sample for testing. However, lancing devices are not all the same. There are several brands available on the market today and each device has its own pros and cons.

One important thing to look for when buying lancets for diabetes care is the gentle release of the lancet to facilitate safe disposal, the ability to adjust the depth, special technology that reduces pain and the cost of buying the lancet. You should also invest in lancets that enable you to check your blood sugar in other places such as your forearm and the palm of your hand.

Safe Lancets Eliminate Accidental Pokes

Safe lancets are specifically designed to automatically retract inside the lancing device after use. This prevents the risk of sharps injuries and accidental pokes.

Compared to non-retractable lancing devices where the needle remains open and exposed after use, the concealed needle in safe lancets will prevent cross-infection between patients or between the patient and the caregiver.

It Is Possible To Adjust the Lancet Depth to Reduce the Pain

One great thing you should know about Pip lancets is that it is possible to choose the depth and the quantity you need. If blood sugar testing has always been extremely painful for you because the lancet hits too deep and too hard, switching to pip lancets will help you a great deal.

Pip lancets have multiple depth options thus you can experiment and determine which depth suits you best and is the least painful.

Always Use a Fresh Lancet

After puncturing the finger and drawing blood to check your blood glucose levels, be sure to discard the lancet in the appropriate container. Do not use the same disposable lancet more than once.

This is because reusing a disposable lancet can increase the risk of infections and pain. Remember, every lancet starts out sharp. However, if you attempt to use it repeatedly in order to save money, the needle becomes very dull and this could be the reason why you experience extreme finger pricking pain. Try using a fresh lancet every time and see if it reduces the pain.

Lancets Should Be Disposed of Safely To Avoid Environmental Risks

As a diabetes patient, you will be required to carry needles and lancets and store them in your home. It is very important to take the right measures to avoid all risks. Remember needle stick injuries can lead to blood-borne infections such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C.  As a basic rule, keep your lancets out of the reach of children.

Do not throw your lancets in the garbage as they could poke your family members and neighbors’ accidentally. Instead, request for a free mini sharps container at the hospital or pharmacy where you can discard the lancet after use. Once it’s full, bring it back to the hospital for safe disposal.

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