Category Archives: Glucose Meters

The Gentlelet 1 Lancing Device A Godsend For Children

Gentlelet 1 Lancing DeviceIt’s difficult enough for a child to find out that they have diabetes. It’s more difficult for them if they’re forced to stick themselves with needles every day, whether it’s with insulin or testing their blood glucose sugar.

The more they test, the more control children have over their diabetes and blood sugar. They’ll know what to do if their blood sugar level gets high or low. It’s good when children learn how to use lancets and lancing devices to check their blood sugar level.

There are lancets and lancing devices made for children that won’t inflict a lot of pain on them. However, it is important to note that there are some that may not provide enough blood to test their blood sugar level.

When children are using these, they should feel comfortable using them. They may feel slight pain, but that’s fine. As long as it’s quick, then it shouldn’t be so much of a problem.

Some lancing devices are simpler to use than others. Some can be a pain in the rear for children to use. One of the easiest lancet devices to use is called the Gentle-let 1. This lancing device is made to use once for each lancet. This device costs more than some of the other ones. It is unique because it can be used when a child is away from home (before and after care facility, school, or recreational activity).

With the Gentle-let 1, the lancet is built inside of the lancing device. This way, children do not have the task of inserting a lancet. Also, the lancet isn’t removed after pricking your finger. That’s good for them because it prevents accidental injuries. Children can learn to use the Gentle-let 1 in a matter of minutes.

This device can be used in both normal and extra depth. With the normal, you don’t have to dig deep to get an ample amount of blood for testing. However, the extra one is used when children have calloused fingers.

Usually when a person has finished pricking their finger for testing, the lancet is removed and discarded. Some of the lancets use caps to cover them; then there’s some that don’t. There are some that do not need capping. In reality, only adults should have recapping capabilities. Children (especially young children) should not be saddled with that responsibility.

This brings us to another reason the Gentle-let 1 lancing device is advantageous for children is because the safety risk is very low. When the cap is placed back on the lancet, there is very little to no chance of injury risk. The plastic covering keeps the lancet inside not only to protect it, but to protect the child as well. This device can also be used by children that are just learning to use the device.

The fewer children have to do when it comes to the lancing devices, the better. If it’s made simple and easy for them, then they’ll be more eager to use it. Otherwise, they’re setting themselves up for possible accidents or injury. They’ll definitely be satisfied with the Gentle-let 1 lancing device.

Microlet Vaculance Lancing Device

Microlet Vaculance Lancing DeviceThe Microlet Vaculance lancing device is used differently than other lancing devices. When testing your blood glucose, you don’t have to use your fingertips like you would for other lancing devices. In fact, this device is not set up to use for your fingertips. With this device, you can actually get blood from your arms and legs.

The Microlet Vaculance uses BD Ultra Fine II lancets. These are lancets that are used in gauges of 30 or 33. Both sets are thin, with the 33 gauge being the thinner of the two. However, more diabetics were using the 30 gauge.

Even so, the 33 gauge isn’t far behind. It can be used for BD Logic and Latitude blood glucose meters. The lancet takes a moment to set up in the Vaculance lancing device. The only minor issue with this would be to make sure that you’re using a fresh one.

When you’re finished with the lancet, it needs to be disposed of properly and quickly. If this is not done, you could set yourself up for injuries and/or accidents. When they are not disposed of in a proper manner, the loose lancets are known as sharps. These can be very dangerous and harmful.

If you’re not sure of where to dispose your lancets, check with your local municipality or if you live in an apartment, check with the apartment manager. They can advise you of whether or not it is safe to dispose lancets in the disposal.

The Vaculance is designed with a vacuum device where your blood can be suctioned out. This gives you clearance to use other areas of your hand like your thumb base and your palm’s outside area on the edge. These areas are not prone to as much discomfort and pain as the tips of your fingers would be.

When you get a blood drop, it is not able to move to the test strip with ease. You will have to place the test drip in the area of the blood drop. The Vaculance is required to utilize strips that suction the blood.

For adult diabetics, using the Vaculance lancing device is a simple process. To operate it, you must push the plunger downward with your thumb. This activates the stick and vacuum area. Continue to push down until the vacuum lets go. You can then test the blood. Because it’s better suited for those who can exert pressure, it’s better if this lancing device is used by adults only.

Older children, including teenagers and young adults, can try using the Vaculance lancing device. It may be especially helpful if they can’t use their fingertips or those who have big hands. They can give it a shot and see what they think.

However, for younger children, the Vaculance is not recommended. This is because they would have to exert more pressure from their already small body size. This will do nothing but frustrate them and is best not to allow them to use the Vaculance lancing device.

The Vaculance is good for adults because it offers an alternative way from fingertip testing. You won’t have to concern yourself about your fingers being sore anymore.

BD Genie Lancets A Rainbow Of Devices For Diabetics

bd genie lancetsTo get your blood flow going and expanding, the BD (Becton Dickinson) Microcontainer Genie Lancet is a good choice. This lancet is safety-engineered and use a variety of sharps (blades and needles) to collect blood. This lancet also protects health care personnel from accidents or injury by using a retractable method on the instrument.

For the blood collection, BD Microcontainer Tubes are used. They come in a count of 50 tubes per bag and 200 per case. One version has a tube called a serum separator that contains a clot activator. Another version of the tube has a top that is attached and does not contain a clot activator.

For the BD Genie lancets, there are different measurements of how deep the needle can or should be punctured in the skin:

  • If you use the orange lancet, it can go into the skin up to 2.25mm.
  • If you use the purple lancet, it can go into the skin up to 1.25 mm.
  • If you use the blue lancet, it can go into the skin up to 2.0 mm.
  • If you use the green lancet, it can go into the skin up to 1.5 mm
  • If you use the pink lancet, it can go into the skin up to 1.0mm.
  • For the blue, green and pink lancets, the width of the blade is 1.5mm.

It is recommended that you use more than one type of BD Genie Lancet because of different things in your blood that need to be checked.

The good thing about the BD Genie Lancet is that it is relatively safe to use. There is a minimal chance that you can be injured with this device. This lancet has a retractor that automatically pulls back the blade upon completion. This safety features applies to whoever is using it, whether it is health care personnel or a patient.

In addition to the safety feature, if comfort is the main concern of using this, the Purple BD Genie Lancet is the best one to use. It is compact and made to use one time only. It is also easy to dispose of. With this particular lancet, you don’t have to do any extra work when you test your blood.

If you are not sure of which BD Genie Lancet to use, here is a list of them and what they should be used for:

  • The Purple lancet is for a single blood drop and should be applied with the fingersticks.
  • The Orange lancet is for a single blood drop and should be applied with the fingersticks. This one is used to test your blood glucose level.
  • The Pink lancet is used if you don’t have a lot of blood flow. It can be used if only a small drop of blood is needed for blood glucose testing.
  • The Green lancet is used if a medium blood flow is needed. It can be used to put blood in a Microcontainer tube.
  • The Blue lancet is used if there is a lot of blood flow. It can be used to put blood in a Micocontainer tube.

You can get more information from your physician on which one you should use if you’re still uncertain. One or more of these lancets is available to best suit your needs.

Tenderlett Lancet

Tenderlett LancetThe Tenderlett lancet was made for single use in a lancing device. It is contained within itself, so there is no special procedure needed for operation. The Tenderlett is different in that there is a very small blade that is used to make a small incision in the finger. The incision is done to lessen any pain and prevent possible tissue damage.

The Tenderlett brand of lancets offered three different type of lancets with different measurements of incision:

  • The Tenderlett – The incision is 1.75mm and there is little indenting of the skin because the device was in the shape of the finger.
  • The Tenderlett Jr. – The incision is 1.25mm and you would know it by its white case and blue trigger. This lancet device was used for children.
  • The Tenderlett Toddler – The incision is 0.85mm and you would know it by its white case and pink trigger. This lancet device was used for toddlers and older infants.

The lancets are easily identifiable because they are color-coded.

For diabetic children, the Tenderlett lancet was considered the most costly of the lancets on the market. It was a little difficult for young children to use because it required at least four pounds of pressure is used to activate it. This was more suited for adults and older children to administer.

You can be safe using the Tenderlett lancet. There is minimal risk of someone accidentally getting stuck by the lancet, because recapping of the lancet is not needed. The tip of the lancet stays inside the plastic case. This lancing device can be used just about anywhere, including outside and on recreational trips.

In addition to that, the International Technidyne Corporation, which manufactured the Tenderlett lancet device, was chosen by NASA to use their products. The Tenderlett brand was lifted into space with astronauts during the Atlantis I space mission.

NASA wanted to use blood glucose testing as part of a test they were doing. This test consisted of the amount of energy the astronauts used during their time in space. They chose the Tenderlett brand because it was known to help diabetics experience less pain.

Other lancet incision devices proved no match to the Tenderlett devices. Another reason why NASA chose Tenderlett over some of the other brands is because of the blood flow.

The Tenderlett devices were proven to provide proper blood flow in the body. Armed with this, NASA determined it to be a good fit because they knew that blood flow in the body would sometimes pose a conflict with weight during their space mission.

When using these lancets, they didn’t pose much of a problem with blood flow. Due to the way the incision was made, the diabetic was assured of a blood sampling provided the procedure was done correctly. Your finger would be cut at the right length as indicated on the lancet information.

However, the Tenderlett Jr. and Toddler is no longer available for children as of September 2007. The only brand that is currently on the market is the Tenderlett lancing device for adults.

The BD Ultra-Fine II Lancet An Easier Way To Test

BD Ultra-Fine II LancetOne of the thinnest gauges available in the BD (Becton Dickinson) product lineup is the BD Ultra-Fine II Lancet. The lancets can be purchased in 30 or 33 gauges, with the 33 gauge being the thinner of the two.

The gauges that was most used was the 30, but now with the 33 gauge in the running, it may surpass the former. The BD Ultra-Fine Lancet is good to use for people who were using uncomfortable lancets while testing the blood glucose level.

At the time, the gauges could be used for the BD Logic blood glucose meters. The BD Logic is made similar to a regular blood glucose device. This blood glucose device is made where you can easily hold it in your hand. There are test strips that come with this and they are easy to use. It only takes a few minutes to test your blood glucose with this device.

The BD Logic was also affiliated with the BD Lancet Device. The 33-gauge BD Ultra-Fine II Lancets were used with this. These lancets are good to use, especially since a small amount of your blood is needed for testing. In addition to that, the BD Logic devices had a cap that cane with the lancets. This additional accessory was free with your blood glucose device.

Several years ago, the BD Logic was removed from the market, so it is no longer available for use with the BD Ultra-Fine II Lancets.

In several tests, the BD Ultra-Fine II Lancet was proven to provide more comfort and less pain while testing. More people wanted this lancet as opposed to the other lancets they were using for that purpose. The BD Ultra-Fine Lancet is similar to other lancing instruments used.

This lancet is made to make injections easier for your skin. It also goes through an electro-polishing process, which makes the lancet of high quality. This process also is responsible for taking out pieces that don’t belong in the instrument. When doing this, this helps to make the injection a smooth process and doesn’t put pressure to make the needle go into your skin.

The BD Ultra-Fine II Lancets can be used by children. As long as they follow the instructions, it will work for them. However, they still may need assistance from an adult.

Another thing about these lancets is that you have to be able to distinguish an old lancet from one that hasn’t been used. You won’t be able to tell the difference just by looking at it. That might be a small issue for children that use these lancets.

Because this lancet is shaped like a cylinder, it is one of the easiest lancets on the market to use. You don’t have to do anything extra or special to make it work for you. Just follow the directions and you’re all set.

Becton Dickinson has a consumer program where they send out millions of BD Ultra-Fine II Lancets. They are available for both healthcare personnel and consumers to try. This way, you’ll know whether or not this lancet is for you.

The Soft Touch Lancet Giving You The Right Touch

Soft Touch LancetThe Soft Touch lancet uses a 28 gauge needle with a flat cap. This lancet is good to use for children. It has been compared to the BD Ultra-Fine lancet. Both lancets are favored in high regard.

Even though the need on this lancet is thin, the Soft Touch lancet was able to make a blood specimen good enough to use for one of the blood glucose meters. You don’t find a lot of large lancets available anymore.

The Soft Touch lancet is made to be used with the Adjustable Soft Touch lancing device. This device is an improved version of the regular lancing device on the market. This lancing device is almost the size of a writing pen.

It is so light, you can pick it up with your finger. It has also shown to be favored for children to use. In addition to the Soft Touch lancets, the Adjustable Soft Touch lancing device can use the BD Ultra Fine II and ComforTouch lancets.

To operate the Adjustable Soft Touch lancing device, remove the top and you will see the lancet holder. This lancet holder comes with a spring. The lancets are placed in the holder and you push your finger to keep the lancets down. When the safety top is removed, the original top is secured on the lancing device. The lancing device is made with five lancing measurements.

When you’re ready to cock the lancing device, you’ll hear a click when you separate the top and bottom of the lancing device. The trigger will be up in the lancing device. This signals that it is properly cocked. You don’t need to exert a lot of strength to let go of the trigger.

After your blood glucose test, remove the top and the lancet. To do this properly, you have to grip on the lancet while the tip is shown. If children are doing this, make sure they know how to do it and avoid injury or infection.

If possible, there should be an adult supervising at least for the first few times. The lancet holder should not be moved while removing the lancet. This way, the lancet holder will still be in place.

The lancet holder is usually the first part of the lancing device to give way and break. It can either be classified as an actual break or a crack in the device. This happens when you’re not holding your lancets properly. Also, the lancet holder may not be using the best material for the device.

You can always get a replacement device should yours happen to go bad. The lancing devices usually come with a five year warranty.

Because of the many great features of the Adjustable Soft Touch lancing device, it is recommended as a good tool to use for blood glucose testing. It is easy to use and the Soft Touch lancet works well with it. The Soft Touch lancet is different in that it is sturdy and reliable. It is recommended to use for adults and children.

Unilet Lancets, Unilet GP And Unilet Superlite

Unilet Lancets, Unilet GP And Unilet SuperliteWith Unilet lancets, different needle sizes can be used. This helps to make sure that the samples from the blood glucose testing are correct. These lancets can be used with different blood glucose meters.

The needles are uniquely designed and you can choose from different widths. This helps to get the blood samples without having to experience a lot of frustration or injury to your skin. You will also be able to test yourself without much discomfort on a daily basis.

You can choose which gauge you want to use with the Unilet lancet. You can also choose which shape you want to use with your lancing device.

With the Unilet and Unilet GP lancets, they both use 21 gauge instruments. The standard one is the Unilet GP and the XL version is the Unilet. The latter lancet is exclusively made for the Autolet and the Glucolet lancing instruments.

With the 21 gauge lancets, they may not be suitable for children due to the bigger size. In fact, they may cause more pain to them than necessary. Since the Unilet tops have a circular shape, the used lancets would be difficult for children to cover up.

The Unilet Superlite and Unilet Superlite GP lancets are not as thick as the Unilet lancets. The same thing applies with the Superlite as far as the GP and the XL lancets. The Unilet Superlite lancet is bigger than some of the other lancets available today. However, this lancet can still cause pain when used. In fact, it is more painful and uncomfortable than some of the other lancets, including the Unilet and Unilet GP lancet brands.

With the lancet tops, the same scenario applies where it’s difficult for children to cap them. It would be safe to say that the Unilet Superlite brands are not recommended for diabetic children.

In order to use the Unilet brand lancet effectively, here are some tips you should follow:

• First, you should thoroughly wash your hands with soap and warm water. For more blood flow, rub your hands together with fierceness. Make sure they are completely dry before using the lancet.

• With the lancet, load it in the device and choose the measurement you need for the needle to go into your skin. There are different measurements for different types of skin.

• Use the outer portion of one of your fingers to use with the lancet and lancing device. The device should lightly press against your finger and prick the selected finger. If you prefer not to use your finger, there are some Unilet lancets that allow you to use other areas on your body.

• Give your finger or other alternate body part a chance for the blood to emerge. You may have to massage the area from the bottom of the finger in order to get an ample amount. It’s a good idea to use different fingers each time so the same ones won’t get sore or injured.

If you find it difficult to use the Unilet lancet brand, consult with your physician for further assistance. This lancet is one of the easiest brands to work with.

FreeStyle Flash Glucose Meter

FreeStyle Flash Glucose MeterAbbott Diabetes Care is a well-known name in the diabetes product industry. This company carries a multitude of products which are used by diabetics worldwide. For those who are searching for a glucose meter to monitor their blood sugar level, this company provides quite a few from which to choose the best one for their individual testing needs. One such glucose meter offered by this company is the FreeStyle Flash.

Product Characteristics
The main characteristics of the FreeStyle Flash glucose meter focus on pain-free testing which is discrete in nature. The Flash model requires only a 0.3 microliter of blood in order to obtain glucose level results. In addition, the glucose meter can be used at various testing sites which presents many different options for test areas on the body. Programmable alarms remind the user when it is time to test which makes it easy to stay on track with glucose monitoring. This model also includes lights, such as the test light and backlit display, which make for easy reading.

Pros of the FreeStyle Flash Glucose Meter
As many of the other products designed by Abbott Diabetes Care, the FreeStyle Flash glucose meter is all in all a good product. It has reminder alarms which are extremely beneficial in and of themselves but especially so for those who may be busy or a bit forgetful at times. Another positive aspect of the FreeStyle Flash is that it has an easy to read screen with more than adequate lighting in which to read the results, no matter where the test is taken. In addition, the virtually pain free characteristics of the test itself makes it less likely that the tester will experience too much discomfort when having to test on a frequent basis. Lastly, this model of glucose meter provides multiple testing sites for the individual to choose the best one for their needs.

Cons of the FreeStyle Flash Glucose Meter
There are a few disadvantages which can be cited with the FreeStyle Flash model. First, the product is described as having multiple testing sites however there are certain sites which should be used for particular testing situations. For example, hypoglycemic individuals who are testing for low blood sugar or hypoglycemic awareness should use the finger site as opposed to any other site as this is most accurate in this scenario.

Also, this model of glucose meter does not offer PC compatibility where you can download the information from the meter onto your computer. The PC feature is a great thing to have these days as it allows users of glucose meters to put all of their pertinent glucose recordings directly on their computer. Therefore, even though this is a good model when all is said and done, there are other glucose meters on the market today which may offer more components for the tester to take advantage thereof.

The Bottom Line
If you are looking for a basic glucose meter which has various testing sites, lit displays, alarms and offers virtually pain-free testing, then the FreeStyle Flash is a good option to consider as it is reasonably priced for anywhere from $20 to $30. On the other hand, if you want your glucose meter to do just a little bit more, such as provide more details and be PC ready, then choosing another model such as the FreeStyle Lite might be in your best interest. Therefore, if you wish to purchase a glucose meter manufactured by Abbott Diabetes Care and you need something with a little bit more there is always the option of taking a look at the other models produced by this company to see if anything catches your eye.

FreeStyle Lite Glucose Meter Review

freestyle lite glucose meter reviewFreeStyle Lite is the newest glucose meter being offered by the manufacturer, Abbott Diabetes Care. This company offers a few other FreeStyle models, such as the Flash, Xtra and Freedom, but there are factors about the FreeStyle Lite which make it stand out among the rest. The following review will focus on the various components of the FreeStyle Lite glucose meter and highlight different pros and cons associated with this particular testing method.

Product Characteristics
The FreeStyle Lite glucose meter is, as the name would suggest, light in weight. One can carry this monitor around without having the extra burden of a heavy glucose meter in their pocket or purse. This glucose meter has a no coding component as well as touting the world’s smallest blood sample size. In order to view your glucose level results easier, the FreeStyle Lite also comes with a backlight as well as a test strip port light. This model will only use FreeStyle Lite test strips which can be purchased quite readily. The FreeStyle Lite glucose meter is also PC compatible which makes downloading data easy to do.

Pros of the FreeStyle Lite Glucose Meter
There are many visible pros to using the FreeStyle Lite glucose meter. First, the no coding capability is a wonderful asset when it comes to ease of use. With the no coding capability users are able to simply perform the test without having to manually enter information prior to doing so. Another beneficial aspect of this glucose meter is that it takes an extremely small blood sample which makes for a less painful testing situation. In addition, the meter itself is small in size, measuring only 2.0 x 1.5 inches.

Another favorable aspect of the FreeStyle Lite glucose meter is that it has easy to read features due to the various lights such as the backlight and test strip port light and is simple to use. In addition the meter has a no-slip grip on the sides which makes for easy handling during testing. The many pros are quite evident with this new glucose meter by Abbott Diabetes Care.

Cons of the FreeStyle Lite Glucose Meter
As with any type of product, there will often be some unfavorable characteristics as well as the beneficial ones. The FreeStyle Lite glucose meter is one such product which does not have many cons associated with it. However, there are a couple potential issues which should be mentioned. The first pertains to the testing strips. The FreeStyle Lite is only able to be used with FreeStyle Lite testing strips and no other ones can be used with this glucose meter. This can cause some issues if for example it becomes difficult to obtain FreeStyle Lite strips for one reason or another. Also, these types of strips may be more expensive than others due to the no coding capabilities associates with these specialty strips.

Another con which can be cited with the FreeStyle Lite glucose meter is that even though the meter is cited as having easy to use components it may be too simple for some. There are other glucose meters on the general consumer market which may have more features available within them than the FreeStyle Lite. Therefore, some diabetic individuals who use this type of glucose meter may find that they crave more testing options than what is currently offered with the FreeStyle Lite.

The Bottom Line
When all is said and done, the FreeStyle Lite is a good glucose meter to choose for your blood sugar testing needs. The no coding feature is a wonderful thing to have and a small blood sample size is an even more beneficial component. This type of glucose meter will meet all of your testing needs and then some. Depending on where you purchase this item, it can be found for around $55 which is quite reasonable on one’s wallet.

Precision Xtra Glucose Meter

Precision Xtra Glucose MeterThe Precision Xtra Glucose Meter and Ketone Monitoring System is an all-inclusive meter offered by Abbott Diabetes Care. Since glucose meters are essential to diabetics monitoring their blood sugar level, it is important to choose a glucose meter suitable for one’s specific monitoring needs. For many, the Precision Xtra Glucose and Ketone Monitoring System is the perfect choice.

Product Characteristics
The Precision Xtra consists of a basic monitoring menu with easy to read components and quick results. In addition, this glucose meter plays double duty as it measures not only one’s glucose level but their ketone levels as well. The dual function can be performed with the same meter and the same testing strips which make for an extremely convenient and multi-tasking system. The blood glucose sample size for this model is 0.6 microliters and the test time is approximately 5 seconds. This glucose meter contains an automatic shut off function which helps to preserve the life of the battery.

Pros of the Precision Xtra Glucose Meter
One of the main pros associated with the Precision Xtra Blood Glucose and Ketone Monitoring System is its ability to perform two functions, glucose level and ketone level detections. This 2-in-1 feature makes for a great all-inclusive meter. The data which this monitor produces is an extremely positive attribute.

Also, the glucose test strip is constructed in a way to reduce interference from certain medications which the individual is taking at the moment. Medicines such as aspirin, vitamin C and acetaminophen will usually not interfere with the results produced due to the accuracy of the Precision testing strip.

The Precision Xtra also has a good memory on it. This particular meter can hold data from approximately 450 prior events. This is a beneficial aspect as it makes it less pertinent for the individual to transfer the information immediately after it is registered on the meter as there is enough storage space to hold the measurements for quite a while.

Cons of the Precision Xtra Glucose Meter
Although “con” is a pretty strong word to use to describe aspects of this meter, there are some less favorable aspects about the Precision Xtra which may make potential purchasers look at other possible glucose meters. The blood sample size is one aspect which may make the Precision Xtra be not as favorable to prospective purchasers as other glucose meters. The blood sample size of this meter is 0.6 microliters which is small however there are other meters on the market today which only require 0.3 microliters to register an accurate result. Although the difference is not very large between the two sample sizes, it may be enough to make glucose meter shoppers consider other meters.

Another con of the Precision Xtra glucose meter is that it doesn’t include the necessary cables to pull the information from the meter. These data cables have to be purchased separately in order to engage in data management of your test results.

The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that if you are looking for a dual-purpose meter, i.e. one which does both glucose and ketone level monitoring, the Precision Xtra is a good buy. This meter can be purchased for approximately $79 retail which is a bit more expensive than some of the other glucose meters on the consumer market but reasonable in that it performs two specific duties. If the difference in blood sample size between what the Precision Xtra Blood Glucose and Ketone Monitoring System and some other glucose meters require is not an issue for you, then buying this type of meter might just be a wise choice. This particular meter is available through various retailers such as pharmacies and online sellers as well as through Abbott Diabetes Care.