If you have been diagnosed as a diabetic patient and prescribed to use a glucose monitor recently, there is no doubt that you feel confused greatly. Blood sugar testing can be a bit overwhelming for new patients. Whatever the situation is, do not worry. You are in the right place. In the following section of this article, we have described what a glucose monitor is, and how you can use it. Not only that, we have talked about various kinds of lancets and how you can use them as well. Keep on reading to know more about the glucose monitors and supplies.
Knowing Your Glucose Monitor
You may have already surmised that monitoring the blood sugar level regularly is one of the basic ways of diabetes management. It is the only way to know how your condition is and how you can manage it in the best possible way. So, purchasing a good glucose monitor is imperative if you want to manage your blood sugar level properly. The funny thing is, you can purchase a glucose monitor at a very affordable price. Compared to the displaying device, the needles and the test strips can be a bit pricey.
While getting started with blood glucose monitoring may seem a bit overwhelming at first, over time, it will become a simple habit. However, you need to know your glucose monitor properly to purchase the best product. A good glucose monitor has two different parts. One is a lancing device and the other one is the monitoring device itself.
The other two parts are required to perform the tests. These parts are known as the test strips and the lancets. Depending on the type of glucose monitor, the types of test strips and lancets change accordingly.
Different Types of Lancets
There are several brands of lancets available in the market. However, they are basically of two types, the traditional lancets, and pip lancets.
The Traditional Lancet
It is the most common type of lancet available in the market. In about 99% of glucose monitors, you can see this type of lancet being used. The image that pops into our mind when we hear the term lancet is generally a picture of the traditional lancet. Other common names of the traditional lancets are needles, packers, or lancers.
These lancets are nothing but a piece of molded plastic with a round-shaped cap. The rounded cap hides a sharp needle underneath it. To expose the sharp needle, you simply need to Twist open the plastic cap. The sterile needle can then be used to poke a hole on the finger of the patient for collecting a blood sample. You can use the traditional lancet on your own by simply jabbing it on your finger. But this process can be quite painful. That is why most of the patients choose a lancet that comes with the lancing device.
Each time you use a lancet to poke a hole on your finger, you need to use a clean one. Reusing a needle is not advisable as it can cause father pain and bleeding. As the lancets are very thin and tiny, it gets bent after a single-use.
Most traditional lancets come in a generic design and are compatible with a wide range of lancing devices. However, some of the lancets are compatible with only their own lacing devices. So, while buying the lancets, you need to check whether they will be compatible with your blood glucose monitor or not.
Also, while buying the lancets, you should consider the gauze size of the needle and choose the products that come with the safe disposal plant. Choosing self-contained units is the safest bet for the patients.
Pip Lancet
As you may have already surmised, pip lancet is not as popular as the traditional one. These lancets are of hospital grade and historically only found in the hospitals. However, you can find pip lancets anywhere these days.
Just like the traditional one, pip lancets are also a single-use device. However, this two-in-one device reduces 80% of the necessary steps associated with the traditional lancets. It also ensures safe disposal and reduces the anxiety and pain associated with regular lancet use.
Now that you have a clear idea about the lancet and the glucose monitor, it will be easier for you to find a suitable device for yourself. Just make sure that the glucose monitor and the lenses you choose are compatible with each other. If you have any more queries, you can ask the pharmacist for your healthcare provider.