Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong condition but one that can be controlled if managed with the right amount of care and vigilance. Daily checking and maintenance of blood glucose levels are vital parts of diabetes management as the doses of insulin and your child’s long-term diabetic control are dependent on them.
The most accurate way to check glucose levels is via finger prick tests. Finger pricks using a lancet can be daunting, but a lancing device can simplify this task. You can simply place the lancet in the device and the prick is (relatively) painless, quick, and efficient. If you or your child is newly diagnosed, you should always keep a lancing device and blood glucose meter nearby.
Eventually, you’ll want to incorporate a continuous glucose monitor as well. Real-time monitoring with a CGM will unlock a whole new world of insights and enable you to get the most out of tools like Gluroo. Even if you have a CGM, though, having a reliable and effective lancing device and BGM is important too.
With that said, let’s discuss what things you should look for when buying a lancing device for your child and what some good options are.
Lancing Devices Are Not All the Same
There are many lancing devices available on the market. But with so many options available, it can be very confusing to decide which one is best for you and your kid. However, there are certain things you should keep in mind when purchasing a lancing device.
- Needle Size – Smaller needles are much more precise and comfortable to use. When you have a child, you want a needle that is as painless as possible so that they easily get used to getting their blood sugar tested regularly. So, try to buy a lancing device that can accommodate the smallest needle sizes.
- Lancet Compatibility – Before you buy a lancing device, make sure that it is compatible with the lancets that you already own if that’s the case. Some devices are specifically designed for specific lancets. Universal lancing devices are compatible with most lancets, so it’s preferable to buy those as you can then pick different lancets in the future.
- Depth Options – It’s good to buy a device that has various depth options as you can then decide which depth is ideal for your kid. You obviously don’t want to prick them too deep or so superficial that you must repeat the process.
- Quiet Spring – This is something that people might overlook when buying a lancing device but is very important especially when you will be using it on a child. A device with a loud spring or one that jams can startle both you and your child, making the task more difficult. So, try to test the device before you buy it and make sure it’s a smooth and quick click.
- Price – Obviously, like with any other purchase you need to keep in mind what your budget is. Healthcare products are often a bit pricey, but when the range is large, you can find various products at various price points.
- Brand Reputation – This again is something you keep in mind when buying anything, but it’s very important when buying a lancing device as you’ll be using it for a long time. Brands that have multiple products and a good reputation tend to have more durable and easy-to-use products. You should also look for a brand that has good customer service so that if something goes wrong, you can get the device easily fixed.
Most Popular Lancing Devices
Keeping all those things in mind, here are some of the best lancing devices currently on the market.
1. Accu-Chek FastClix
Accu-Chek is a well-known brand and one of the market leaders when it comes to lancing devices. Their FastClix is highly rated amongst users, receiving 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
The FastClix features a fine gauge (30G) needle with a bevel cut and claims to be gentler. It also has 11 different depth settings so you can decide which works best for your child. It also comes with a drum of 6 lancets, so you don’t need to insert lancets individually, but this does mean that it’s not compatible with other lancets.
Most users have said that it’s easy to use due to the lancet drum insertion and has a gentler prick. Users have also noted that it’s a durable and sturdy device.
Each pen costs about $13, and 17 drums of 6 lancets (102 lancets total) cost $15.
2. OneTouch Delica Plus
OneTouch’s Delica Plus is another great option.
The device itself is smaller than most lancing devices and it features two-needle thicknesses, 30 and 33G. Which means that the needles are pretty thin. The lancet needles are also coated in silicon to make them glide in more easily. It also has 13 different depth options.
But the device is only compatible with OneTouch Delica and OneTouch Delica Plus lancets.
This device also has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 on Amazon and users have said that it works well and has a gentle prick. But some have complained about it being too delicate and easy to break.
The cost of this lancing device is about $17 and 100 33G lancets cost $12.
3. Accu-Chek SoftClix
Clearly, AccuChek is a big name in this category, which is why two of its lancing devices made the list. The Soft-Clix is similar to the FastClix with the only major differences being in the number of lancets inserted at once and the needle size.
The SoftClix is a more traditional device in the sense that you only insert one lancet at a time rather than a drum of six, but it too is only compatible with its own lancets. The needle on this is slightly thicker, being a 28G needle, but it has 11 different depth options.
This too is highly rated at 4.6 stars out of 5. Users have stated it is easy to use and painless, and many have been using it for years.
The device will cost you $12 and 200 lancets will cost around $25.
4. Genteel Lancing Device
The Genteel Lancing device is pricier than the rest of the devices we have mentioned, but it also has a long set of pros that justify the price for some of the users.
For starters, the needle is very fine, being a 32G at the base and a 36G needle at the tip. It is also approved to be used at any part of the body, so you don’t have to prick your child’s finger every time. It also has a vacuum function that makes the prick painless.
It has 6 depth options that are set by different color-coded tips. The device also comes in 5 different colors. Overall, it’s quite different from other devices due to its look and features.
The device has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 on Amazon with users stating that it’s a great option especially for people with kids with T1D because it’s painless, and even comes with stickers.
The device costs about $119 and has a one-year warranty. 300 Butterfly Touch lancets cost $24.
5. CareTouch Lancing Device
Finally, on the list, we have the CareTouch Lancing Device. This device is also very popular and comes with rainbow-colored lancets, making it a bit more kid-friendly.
The device has 10 different depth settings and has an ejector so that you can easily remove the used lancet without the fear of pricking yourself in the process. One great feature of this device is that it’s a universal lancing device, which means that it’s compatible with most round lancets. Its own lancets are fine too, being 30 and 33G.
On Amazon, users have rated it 4.4 out of 5 stars and have highly recommended it. Most people find it easy to use and painless, and some users have been using these for years now. A few people have had trouble with the prick being too superficial, but most users say it works fine.
The device costs about $13, a pack of 100 30G needles is $9 and a pack of 100 33G lancets is $6. But you can use it with other lancets if you already have them.
Are Lancing Devices Covered by Insurance?
Diabetes self-testing items are covered by Medicare B. If you have Medicare B, lancets, lancing devices, and glucose monitors will be covered by it.
However, it’s best to check with your healthcare and insurance provider to know exactly what is covered in your child’s plan.
Make Sure You Do Your Research
When your child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, it’s normal to want to know all there’s to know about its management. This also includes trying to figure out the most effective and painless way to measure their blood glucose levels. Lancing devices make the whole process much less scary for both you and your child.
These are some of the best options available, but you should do your own research to figure out which is best for your child. Just keep our tips in mind so that you’re not overwhelmed by everything out there.