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Finger Prick / Testing

A

AJKOK11

Member
Hi, i just wanted to share what for me has been a really big step forward.

After being diagnosed as type 1 back in August last year ( i'm 46), i have found the daily grind of pricking my fingers in order to test my glucose the biggest annoyance. I use both sides of each finger but most are bruised and have developed hard skin around them already.

Anyway, i've been using a Glucojet (Dual Plus) pricker which uses individual lancets, and always had them set on 1 or 2 to get blood. 2 weeks ago my diabetic team changed me to a new meter ( Accu-Check Aviva expert) and along with it came a new finger pricker, an Accu-Check FastClix. It comes with six lancets in a cartridge that you rotate after each use. Now maybe the spring mechanisms are different, maybe having the lancets in a cartridge allows them to be narrower, but whatever the reason, boy is it easier. It is "almost" pain free and certainly 60% of the time i don't even notice it has clicked, but the blood is there.

It's been a real negative for me, so finally finding something that is such an improvement i thought was good to share with anyone else suffering from bruised fingers

Al.

https://www.accu-chek.co.uk/gb/products/fingerprickers/fastclix.html
 
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@AJKOK11 I use the Accu Chek Mobile meter which has the Accu Chek Fastclix attached. I chose it when I decided to get a meter because I have a needle phobia, and I read the reviews where most people found it to be the easiest lancet to use.
I have been using it for about 6 weeks now and have no problems with soreness. I find it easy to use and almost painless - just a quick prick.
I find the meter itself more problematic as I often seem to get a 'test error' or insufficient blood message, probably about 20% of my tests, which makes the testing more expensive. I have bought three of these meters and when I finish the tests (you get 50 tests with each meter) I might switch to the codefree one recommended on this forum.
But I will continue using the Accu Chek Fastclix lancets.
 
It's the best pricker out there
 
When I was looking into getting a meter one of the things I researched on Amazon was people's comments on various pricking devices as I was a bit needle phobic and the Fastclix came well recommended. When I changed to a different meter, I kept my Fastclix - the "thing" that came with the new meter was so fiddly and unpleasant!

Robbity
 
I absolutely agree regarding the Accu Check Fastclix finger pricker.It was the first one I used.I like the lancet cartridge, and it is adjustable for depth so pretty painless.I have no pain, or lumps on my fingers and I test 7-8 times a day.
When I got an SD Codefree meter I could not get on with the finger pricker or individual lancets.It seemed crude and cumbersome and it was more painful.I only keep it as an emergency backup.
The ideal combination for me seems to be SD Codefree meter and strips,cheap and as accurate as any meter, and Fastclix finger pricker.Only problem is you have to buy the whole meter etc to get the Fastclix finger pricker.
 
I use the Fastclix - my surgery have now changed my meter but I've kept the Fastclix as its much better than any other that I've tried.
 
I was given a Fastclix when I was given an Accuchek Mobile by my DN (no spare strips I might add). I have continued to use it with my Codefree meter and wouldn't use anything else. They are brilliant. The local pharmacy sells boxes of drums.
 
Hi Prem51, I use the same meter as you have just mentioned I have no problem with soreness and always use hand cream afterwards. I sometimes have had the test error come up a few times, put it down to not having the blood directly in the centre of the strip.
 
@Prem51 that is strange, as I have found the AC Mobile the easiest to use as it requires less blood than most with a strip, I sometimes expect an error message when the droplet isn't particularly big, but so far (after 170 + tests) I have never had one.

PS The Fastclix is definitely the best "pricker" I have used.
 
@amgrundy and @britishpub yes it might be my fault that I have been getting so many 'errors'. I probably don't centre the blood too well. I wear varifocals and find it a little difficult to see where I'm aiming for.
 
The issue with pricking finger tips rather than sides for an extend period of time is that you can affect the sense of touch by damaging or desensitising the nerves.
 
your post had me laughing out loud -- i never let the nurses test my blood -- they ram the **** lancing device so hard against the finger I am surprised they don't punch a hole through my finger.

I always take it off them and explain that because I do it probably more often than they do i have learned how to be gentle-- usually does not go down too well but hey ho
 
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