• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Lancets too short?

D

Dinet

Well-Known Member
Messages
58
Location
London
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
Dislikes
keep going back to my bad eating habits
Has anyone got a similar problem?
I have set my pen to maximum setting (on 5) but i still have to push the pen firmrly on my finger to draw enough blood.
[Pen brand is "home health uk", it came with SD FREECODE kit]
 
@Dinet, I have a few questions...

Do you test your finger pads or the sides of your finger pads? (Answer hopefully is sides.)

Do you test the same finger each time? Or do you test a different side of each finger as the day progresses? (Answer hopefully is never testing same place more than once each day.)

Do you alternate hands? (Answer, use right hand on Monday, left hand on Tuesday, etc.)

And finally, do you do work or have dry skin that causes you to develop callouses?

Your question is most intriguing.
 
Dinet said:
Has anyone got a similar problem?
I have set my pen to maximum setting (on 5) but i still have to push the pen firmrly on my finger to draw enough blood.
[Pen brand is "home health uk", it came with SD FREECODE kit]
Click to expand...
Have you screwed the cap on tightly enough after changing lacet?
 
@Dinet I also have to press my lancing device firmly against my skin, but I'm not using the deepest setting...

Perhaps it's a design problem. Does anyone have and use Dinet's lancing device: "Pen brand is "home health uk", it came with SD FREECODE kit"?
 
Dinet said:
Has anyone got a similar problem?
I have set my pen to maximum setting (on 5) but i still have to push the pen firmrly on my finger to draw enough blood.
[Pen brand is "home health uk", it came with SD FREECODE kit]
Click to expand...
@Dinet
Hi. I had the same problem. I asked at the hospital and they gave me a different pen with a setting that goes up to 7. Turns out that I have slightly thicker skin than most people. Even with the pen on 7 I have to make sure I warm my hands up before testing to get out enough blood to test.
 
I have the same problem. The replacement lancet pen scale goes up to 7 whereas previous ones went up to 5.
The new pen is far bigger than the old one (which has cracked)

The new pen barely touches the skin never mind puncturing it.

Cannot seem to get this through to Caresens nice as the staff are. They keep talking about the gauge, 28 or 30 but that is the thickness of the needle.

I am sure there are 2 length of lancet 31 mm and 37mm. The lancets I have measure 31mm. Sure I need the 37mm lancet but they say there is only one pen they supply and one type of lancet.

Driving me bonkers

Ste
 
I have this one and no problems. I have to make sure I have screwed the tip back on firmly when changing lancets. It may be you have a faulty spring in the end, the bit we pull to prime the lancet each time.
 
Steve364 said:
I have the same problem. The replacement lancet pen scale goes up to 7 whereas previous ones went up to 5.
The new pen is far bigger than the old one (which has cracked)
Click to expand...

I use a Accu-Chek Fasticlix lancing device with a six lancet drum, I never had a problem with it all the time I have been using it.

They are not expensive to buy, I recommend you get one.
 
lucylocket61 said:
I have this one and no problems. I have to make sure I have screwed the tip back on firmly when changing lancets. It may be you have a faulty spring in the end, the bit we pull to prime the lancet each time.
Click to expand...
What length is your lancet pen and what length lancet? Thank you for replying.
 
I'm an old school style lancet user, I use a naked lancet without a finger pricker of any kind. It may take a bit of getting used to but it means I can go to any depth I want as long as I am determined about it....
 
Here's a pix of the Fastclix pen, one came with the accuchek meter I once had, I bought the other for a spare.

Both go through the toughest skin, the lancet drums can only go in one way the same for the front peice that that holds it all together.

 
Here are the smaller one which works fine and the larger newer one which doesn't. The lancets are 31 mm long.
The larger one is possibly for tougher skin.
 
I just put the ruler up for comparison, should have put it on 0 I suppose.
 
I've used a FastClix since I started testing over 8 yeas ago. and currently own both sizes and have never had any issues with either. Both work with the same 6-lancet drums which have 5 depth options, which I've never needed to set on either to any more than 2 normally or 3 if they end up a bit blunt.

@Steve364: Since they can be used with any brand of meters, I'd agree with @Riva_Roxaban that one maybe be worth a try ?
 
I use the SD lancet that came with my Gluco Navii. I have no problems with it on a setting of 3. Setting it to 1, it didn't penetrate, and on 2, I had to press it hard against the skin. On 4, it hurt a lot, and it didn't stop bleeding for 10 minutes! Never tried 5 Sounds like you have particularly thick skin on your fingers.

It is possible to use alternative sites according to Home Health. First, you have to replace the normal cap with the clear plastic one, and then they say:

 
Steve364 said:
Here are the smaller one which works fine and the larger newer one which doesn't. The lancets are 31 mm long.
The larger one is possibly for tougher skin.View attachment 56614
Click to expand...
I have the SD one, set at 1.5 and it's fine for the edges of my delicate fingertips. I have been using this type for over 10 years. My latest one is a year old.

What lancets are you using, where are you pricking your fingers, and have you checked the spring is activating properly?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…