Diabetic Lancets and Lancing Devices
(see lancet brands near bottom of page)
Diabetic lancets are the sharp metal points that pierce your skin to get that small drop of blood for your blood glucose meter. The lancing device is what holds the lancet in a spring loaded mount for quick flesh poking.
Lancet brands vary in the quality of the cutting edge and in the size of the cut that it makes to draw blood. The size is measured by “gauge” - the larger the number, the smaller the lancet diameter. Small and sharp lancets have the least “ouch”.
However, sometimes one must compensate for the test site (finger, forearm, thigh), callouses, or poor blood circulation by using a larger size and/or a deeper poke.
The depth of the lancet’s skin penetration is controlled by the lancing device. Most of these devices are adjustable to obtain the minumum depth required to get the correct size blood droplet with the most comfort. A little bit of trial and error is all that’s required here.
One style lancing device uses lancet cartridges. This makes it possible to avoid seeing or handling the used lancets. (see the Accu-Chek MultiClix Lancing Device).
Juvenile diabetics and adults with arthritus may need to consider each lancing device’s ease of use (Large or small enough in physical size and easily cocked).
Fortunately, most blood glucose monitoring kits include lancets and an adjustable lancing device that fulfills the majority of diabetics needs comfortably.
One final note on replacement diabetic lancets. There are brand name specific lancet replacements and less expensive generic lancets that will work just as well.
It can pay to read each product description when you are shopping! One example are the possible lancet replacements for the “Freestyle” blood glucose meter lancing device. A box of 100 lancets can run from about $9 to as low as $2!
LANCETS - (click on brand to see best buy)
Accu-Chek MultiClix approximate cost per use- 9 cents
Accu-Chek SoftClix approximate cost per use- 9 cents
Advocate approximate cost per use- 2.5 cents Advocate lancets work with these lancing devices: (see bottom of this list)
Ascensia Microlet approximate cost per use- 9 cents
Freestyle approximate cost per use- 10 cents
SuperThin Lets approximate cost per use- 2 cents! (generic replacement lancet for Freestyle and most other brands)
One Touch UltraSoft approximate cost per use- 11.5 cents
Ultra Fine approximate cost per use- 8 cents
UltraFine II approximate cost per use- 7.5 cents
Advocate lancets work in the following lancing device brands. Advocate, Autolet, Autolet Mini, Microlet, Glucolet, Hamalet, Penlet II, Soft Touch, Auto Lancet, BD (Becton Dickenson), Monojector.
LANCING DEVICES - (click on brand to see best buy and to find a full product description) There is a wide variety of features. Prices range from $24 to $4. Selecting which brand lancing device to buy using only the cheapest price criteria not recommended!
Accu-Chek MultiClix Lancing Device We recommend this one as the Cadillac of lancing devices!
Accu-Chek SoftClix Auto Lancing Device
Accu-Chek SoftClix Plus Lancing Device
One Touch UltraSoft Penlet Plus