One of the most important aspects of managing diabetes is monitoring your blood sugar level. Luckily, you can use self-checking devices to monitor your glucose levels. These devices typically involve pricking your finger to draw a drop of blood for sampling.
That's where lancets come in handy, as they're designed to make this process as painless and smooth as possible. Single-use lancets usually come with a dedicated device, but what if using the device isn't an option for you?
Let's explore how to use lancets without a device and offer essential safety tips to reduce pain and improve the accuracy of the results.
Key Facts
A Step-By-Step Guide to Using Traditional Lancets Without a Device
If you must use a traditional lancet without a device, here's how to do it safely. Keep in mind that you should only attempt this as a last resort, as there are other device-free alternatives that we'll discuss in the following sections:
1. Prepare the Measuring Device
Start by taking out a glucose test strip and sticking it to your blood glucose meter per your device's instructions. When ready, the device should give you a beep or display a message on the screen.
2. Disinfect the Pricking Site
Wash your hand with soap and dry it with sterile tissues to minimize the risk of infections.Β
You should also use alcohol swabs for extra disinfection. Some patients avoid using alcohol pads because they cause blood drawing to sting more, but they're essential when you're skipping devices as an additional precaution.
3. Expose the Needle and Prick the Fingertip Manually
Twist the lancet cap in a circular motion to remove it and expose the tiny needle. Typically, you would load the lancet needle in the device to prick the skin.
Instead, you'll need to hold the lancet from the plastic part. The best way to hold the lancet for accuracy is using the following technique:
- Thumb and middle finger on the sides of the plastic body of the lancet (allows you to hold the lancet firmly while jabbing)
- The index on the back end of the lancet (supports the lancet and improves your accuracy while pricking)
Keep the needle tip around 2 mm from your fingertip and prepare yourself for jabbing. Aim slightly off-center to minimize pain.
Once ready, move your hand to prick the skin and remove the needle immediately.
Allow the blood to be drawn out, and apply gentle squeezes if necessary. Then, approach the test strip tip for capillary blood sampling to get a result.
What Are the Best Device-Free Safety Lancets on the Market?
Various options on the market offer good quality while coming at a decent price. Here are some of our top recommendations:
- Pip Safety Lancets: These are available in 3 different sizes and offer excellent accuracy and pain-free performance for the price. They also don't expose the needle for optimal safety.
- McKesson Safety Lancets: A relatively affordable option that is easy to use and provides painless, consistent results.
- MedtLancet Safety Lancets: Ideal for buyers on a strict budget and comes in a variety of sizesΒ
- Medline Sterile Safety Lancets: These are excellent value for the price. They come in two lancet depths for optimal comfort and a button-activated option.
Are There Device-Free Lancets?
Although most lancets recommend using a compatible device for pricking, some disposable lancets with single-use blades are designed to be used freely, eliminating the need for a device.Β
These are known as "safety lancets." They are single-use and are designed to be set off while you apply gentle pressure on their caps. This allows for safe and swift blood collection.
Advantages of Safety Lancets
If you don't want to carry around a pricking device, safety lancets are your best bet. They offer the best of both worlds. Here's a quick look at some of their advantages.
Needles Are Never Exposed
One of the main issues associated with using traditional lancets without devices is exposed needles, which can cause many problems, including a higher risk of infection and needle bending.
Unexposed needles are also incredibly convenient for anyone who suffers from a compulsive fear of needles. This way, you won't have to go through an anxiety episode every time you need to jab your finger with a pricking needle.
Easier to Use
Using traditional lancets without a device can be quite a hassle, as you'll need to be accurate and quick to minimize pain and bruising while pricking a finger.Β
However, this requires some experience and can still be painful and stressful, especially for diabetic children.Β
This makes checking your glucose level a hassle and discourages patients from doing it regularly, which can lead to many problems in the long run.
On the other hand, device-free lancets take the complication out of the process, improving commitment to checkups and informing you about your blood glucose levels.
Easy Disposal
Most safety lancets are designed with one-time-use mechanisms that prevent cross-contamination, allowing for safe disposal.
Different Sizes for Accurate Depth Control
Lancets are not always created equal, as they can vary in length and thickness. Choosing the right size and needle depths depends on personal preferences and aspects like skin thickness and the amount of blood needed.Β
Luckily, many safety lancets come in different sizes to let you choose the one that suits you best.
The Drawbacks of Using Lancets Without a Device
Using the lancet without the device may compromise some of these advantages and cause issues. Here's a quick look at some of them.
More Painful Pricks
One of the main reasons why diabetic patients, whether type I or type II, use lancet devices is pain control.Β
Jabbing your fingertip manually with a needle generates a lot of pain, which can be a genuine problem for those who are afraid of needles.
On the other hand, lancet devices are designed to make the prick as quick and painless as possible.
Inaccurate/Inconsistent Prick Depth
Besides being quite painful, controlling the depth while pricking lancets manually is difficult.Β
This may draw either too much or too little blood, leading to inaccurate and inconsistent test results.
Higher Risk of Lancet Bending or Breaking
Since traditional lancets are designed to be used with a device, the chances of bending and breaking needles with manual sticking are high.
A needlestick injury is considered a safety hazard and usually requires the interference of a healthcare provider.
Exposed Needle Can Lead to Infections
Another problem with using traditional lancets is exposing the needle before using them.
Exposing the needle subjects it to airborne pathogens, which can lead to serious health problems and complications, such as infections.
How To Use Safety Lancets
The exact method for using safety lancets varies from one brand to another. However, the general mechanism of safety lancets is pretty similar among different types, so here's a brief overview of how to use them:
- Prepare your glucose meter by inserting a testing strip into the device and ensuring it's activated and ready for testing.
- Ensure your hands are clean by washing them with soap and drying them properly. You may also use an alcohol swab to quickly disinfect the region where you will prick your finger.
- Take one safety lancet out of the container, twist its white cap in a complete circle to remove it, and prepare the pricking needle. Unlike traditional lancets, the needle will not be exposed.
- Hold the lancet and apply gentle pressure against your fingertip, pressing the back of the lancet to activate it.
- If necessary, gently squeeze your fingertip to release more blood. Then, apply the blood drop to the device and wait a few seconds to take a measurement.
- Dispose of the safety lancet and pack away your device and test strips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Okay to Use Lancets Without Device?
Ideally, using a lancet without a device isn't generally recommended, especially if it comes with a device or is intended to be used with a specific device.
One way to check that is by looking at your sharps container for usage instructions. In most cases, the instructions will clearly state the compatible device to use with the lancets.
Conclusion
As you can see, using a pricking device instead of manual jabbing has various advantages, so you should only use this method if you have no other options.
If you're looking for a convenient method of using lancets without a device, we highly recommend a safety lancet like Pip or McKesson Lancets. They make the process much easier while eliminating the drawbacks associated with manual pricking.
