People all over the world live with diabetes, a condition where blood sugar (or blood glucose) levels are too high. Our mealtime habits are the main source of glucose. Normally, our bodies use a hormone called insulin, made by the pancreas, to help absorb glucose from food into our cells, which then use it for energy. However, if the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it properly, diabetes can occur.
Living with diabetes doesn’t mean you can’t lead a healthy and active life. Managing diabetes involves regularly monitoring blood glucose levels to avoid both low (hypoglycemia) and high (hyperglycemia) blood sugar levels. Proper monitoring helps keep these levels in check, which is the main goal of diabetes treatment. By doing so, you can prevent your blood sugar from getting too high or too low, and avoid tissue damage caused by too much sugar in the bloodstream.
It’s important to check your blood glucose levels at various times throughout the day. A good time to do this is before and after meals, usually about two hours after eating when most of the glucose has been absorbed. How often you need to check depends on your treatment plan, as different people have different requirements.
To measure your blood sugar, you use a glucose meter. This device takes a drop of blood from your fingertip to test your blood glucose level. The meter includes a lancing device that pricks your fingertip to obtain the blood sample. While this pricking can be slightly painful for some people, there are ways to minimize discomfort.
There are two main types of lancets: traditional and pip lancets. They come in various sizes, and some are specially designed for children, requiring less blood. Traditional lancets are basic, involving a plastic piece with a needle under a rounded cap. These can be used on their own or with a lance device that looks like a syringe, which helps draw blood.
Pip lancets, originally used only in hospitals, are now available for personal use. They are more convenient and easier to dispose of after testing. Crucially, pip lancets are usually less painful than traditional ones. These single-use devices keep the needle covered, reducing the chance of accidental pricking. They also allow better control over needle penetration depth, meaning less pain and skin damage.
Despite these advancements, some pain is unavoidable when drawing blood, as the lancet needs to break the skin. Pain levels can vary from person to person, so finding the best type of lancet often involves a bit of trial and error.
In addition to using a pip lancet, a few tips can help reduce pain. Pricking the sides of your fingers instead of the fingertips can be less painful, as the skin there is tougher. Avoiding alcohol wipes before the test can also help; alcohol can dry out and tighten the skin, making it harder to draw blood.
It’s also advisable to use a new lancet for each test. Reusing lancets may seem cost-effective, but it dulls the needle tip, potentially making it harder to break the skin and requiring multiple attempts.
For diabetics, monitoring blood glucose levels is a daily task. Although the idea of constant pricking isn’t pleasant, reducing or eliminating pain is a welcome relief for many. Pip lancets are a great tool in this effort, helping most users to experience as little pain as possible when testing their blood sugar levels.
There you have it, some ways to reduce pain when measuring your blood sugar.