Lancing can be nearly pain-free or painful
May 30th, 2007 by KevinTriggered by a post over at Amy’s, Tiny needle equals a nearly painless blood sugar check. Let’s clarify what counts as a tiny needle. Last time I checked, 26-gauge was for calloused farm hands. Kids prefer a 33 -gauge or at most 31-gauge. Size is inversely related to the gauge (26 = Big needle whereas 33 = Tiny needle).
Image Source: www.bd.com
“MediPurpose is now offering six different needle/blade sizes that can easily be used by children and those with visual impairments. Supposedly perfect for kids is the new Yellow SLN100 model with a tiny 26-gauge needle.”
Sorry MediPurpose but you’ll have to do better than a 26-gauge needle before you will be successful selling colorful lancets to kids with diabetes.
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May 30th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
Agreed.
Did they actually use the word ’supposedly’ in their press release? I think that says it all.
AgaMatrix and BD both have 33-gauge lancets. My guess is you won’t see anything thicker than a 31-gauge lancet in a few years.
June 4th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
Thank you for your comments.
In response to the 26 gauge feedback - I would like to clarify that pen lancets and safety lancets are engineered differently. Many consumers have taken what they’ve heard about gauge size in a regular pen lancet and interpreted it to be true with a safety lancet - which is totally understandable.
The fact is gauge is not the only indicator of pain when using a lancet – it is actually a combination of 3 things:
1. Quality of the needle
2. Speed of delivery
3. Gauge & DEPTH of penetration
A regular pen lancet and the SurgiLance Safety Lancet are engineered differently…and ours has a high quality needle, very quick speed of delivery and although the gauge is 26…the depth of penetration is only 1.0 mm – so it doesn’t go as deep. It is more of a gentle stick through a combination of all of the above.
The SLN100 for example (26 gauge, 1.0 mm depth) is designed for low blood flow for pediatric or elderly patients (or those with thin/normal skin thickness) and we have other lancets (different gauges & depths) that are more appropriate for calloused skin that goes a little deeper through the callous.
We have had many people who have tried it who after using it say it doesn’t hurt vs their pen lancet – both consumers and nurses…they are pleasantly surprised.
We would be more than happy to provide a free sample bag of safety lancets to try for yourself. After trying, I welcome additional feedback!
Laura Ball - MediPurpose
June 4th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Hey Laura,
Thanks for the offer. If you’ll send the samples we’ll be happy to report back on our experience following a quick non-scientific test.
Maybe what we have here is an example of how we could all (patients, providers and manufacturers) use an Underwriter’s Laboratory or Consumer Reports for diabetes?
June 6th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Kevin,
Thank you for your reply. I am very happy to send you some samples - where should I send them?
I welcome your comments regarding your experience with our safety lancets.
Laura Ball - MediPurpose
June 13th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Would it be possible to try samples of the new colored lancets made specifically for children?
June 14th, 2007 at 7:23 am
I wish these companies would stop claiming that that smaller means less pain, a puncture is the same to me regardless of the size, plus, I cannot stand the 30 or 33 gauge lancets … for a frequent tester like myself (15+ times per day), the microlancets do not pierce my callused fingertips very well, and end up requiring a second piercing to get any blood. On top of that, the smaller lancets do not last as long, thus the real reason is so manufacturers can sell more of them, not because they’re any less painful.
June 14th, 2007 at 7:33 am
Time for a new post on accuracy… in marketing
December 6th, 2007 at 11:44 am
Kevin,
Did you do the quick non-scientific test you mentioned in your post on June 4th?
Thanks!
December 6th, 2007 at 11:50 pm
As an update, never heard from MediPurpose??? Feel free to send samples and we’ll give you our honest opinion.