A. Finger-stick blood samplers (lancet devices) are used to obtain blood for testing blood sugar (glucose). These devices consist of two parts: a “lancet holder” that looks like a small pen; and a lancet, which is the sharp point or needle that is placed in the holder. The lancets are only ever used once.
Some people with diabetes use their insulin syringes and lancets more than once to save money. But makers of syringes and lancets do not recommend using them more than once.
DO NOT puncture the skin more than once with the same lancet, or use a single puncture site more than once, because this can lead to bacterial contamination and infection.
Callous and black dots can be caused by blunt needles and not rotating your fingers enough when testing. Some important tips to prevent damage include: Wash your hands before testing. Change your lancet needle more frequently, if not every time you test try and change it at least once a day.
Can I use a lancet more than once? Lancets are for single use only due to hygienic reasons and because the needle will become dull with repeated use.
Wipe away the first droplet of blood with a cotton ball or gauze as indicated. Rationale: The first drop of blood may be contaminated with the alcohol used for disinfection, which may provide an inaccurate result.
To dispose of a lancet properly, the ideal solution is to have a dedicated container labeled "USED SHARPS: DO NOT RECYCLE" and check state guidelines on proper disposal. Sometimes there are no new lancets on hand to replace one you've just used.
Select the first setting, 0.5, for the smallest depth of penetration, and the last setting, 5.5, for the greatest depth of penetration. Select 0.5 to 1.5 for softer-than-average skin, 2 to 3.5 for average skin, and 4 to 5.5 for harder-than-average or calloused skin. Removing the Lancet.
Officially, all lancets are single use.
Both needle and syringe must be discarded once they have been used. It is not safe to change the needle and reuse the syringe – this practice can transmit disease. A single-use vial is a bottle of liquid medication that is given to a patient through a needle and syringe.
Mild high blood sugar
If your blood sugar levels are consistently higher than your target range (usually 11 mmol/L to 20 mmol/L, and 11 mmol/L to 14 mmol/L in children), you may have mild symptoms of high blood sugar. You may urinate more than usual if you are drinking plenty of liquids.
Can I use a lancet more than once? Lancets are for single use only due to hygienic reasons and because the needle will become dull with repeated use. Hence a new, sterile lancet should be used each time you perform a test.
It does not matter which finger is used for glucose measurements. External pressure may lead to unreliable readings.
Once your finger is punctured, wipe away the first drop of blood. If you find that a drop is not forming, it's helpful to promote blood flow by massaging from your wrist down to your fingertip. The additional lancets can be used if needed but it's recommended to choose a different finger.
The middle or ring finger is preferred as having the greatest depth of tissue beneath the skin and hence offering the least chances of injury.
By the way: make sure to avoid pricking thumbs and index fingers as they are most commonly used to touch and feel.
If blood sugar testing is always painful for you, it's possible that your lancet is set to hit too hard or too deep. Part of managing diabetes includes adjusting the depth and force of the lancet properly.
Some people with diabetes use their insulin syringes and lancets more than once to save money. But makers of syringes and lancets do not recommend using them more than once.
After pricking your finger with the lancet, you should need to apply only slight pressure to release blood flow. If you need to apply a lot of pressure to produce a sample, that finger may not be the best testing site for you. Squeezing or milking the finger can contaminate the sample and lead to inaccurate results.
Anywhere from 5 to 13 percent of study participants had a significantly different blood sugar result (versus no squeezing), depending on how much pressure they put on the finger. On average, blood sugar readings were lower when people put pressure on the finger.
Nurses do not need to wipe away the first drop of blood, even when 70% isopropyl alcohol prep pads are used to clean the fingertip. Eliminating this unnecessary step in the procedure will not affect capillary blood glucose values.
Since interstitial fluid behaves as a different compartment relative to blood, it is possible that muscle/fat mass differences between the two arms explains the glucose level discordance between the arms.