Good lancing device for beginner

W

WVCatMama

Member Since 2026
Good morning. What’s a good lancing device for a beginner? We have one but it’s tough hitting the ear and we’ll try several times before drawing blood. Thank you in advance for any suggestions! We are trying to poke the ear with her cone on though, so there’s that.
 
Get the ear really really warm. You may need to hold the rice sock against the Be sure to press the lancet device firmly against the ear. If you hold the rice sock or a folded washcloth under the ear that will give you a firm surface to press the lancet device against and get a good poke. Adjust the lancet device setting to a higher setting if you're not getting blood. If your device came with a clear cap, use that so you can see where you are poking.

Lots of people use the Relion lancet devices. Maybe one of them has tips that can help.

I like the AccuChek SoftClix lancet device.
 
squeem3 said:
Get the ear really really warm. You may need to hold the rice sock against the Be sure to press the lancet device firmly against the ear. If you hold the rice sock or a folded washcloth under the ear that will give you a firm surface to press the lancet device against and get a good poke. Adjust the lancet device setting to a higher setting if you're not getting blood. If your device came with a clear cap, use that so you can see where you are poking.

Lots of people use the Relion lancet devices. Maybe one of them has tips that can help.

I like the AccuChek SoftClix lancet device.
Click to expand...
Thank you! I’ll see which one I have, and look at the ones you like. Unfortunately this one isn’t clear so the actual poke site is a guess when trying to hit the edge of her ear. I do like the idea of the washcloth behind; we’ve already poked a finger twice when missing the ear.
 
WVCatMama said:
Good morning. What’s a good lancing device for a beginner? We have one but it’s tough hitting the ear and we’ll try several times before drawing blood. Thank you in advance for any suggestions! We are trying to poke the ear with her cone on though, so there’s that.
Click to expand...
Sometimes in the beginning, it takes a bit for the ear to 'learn' to bleed, but overtime this improves. Have you had a chance to look at these resources: Hometesting Links and Tips I don't use a lancing device because (as you've mentioned) I have a difficult time getting the poke in the small area on the edge of the ear. Also, the click of the lancing device startles my cat. So, I freehand. I use a rice sock (some people use baby socks filled with rice and tied at one end; I use baby mittens filled with rice and sewn together--warm in microwave for 10-15 seconds) to warm the ear (cold ears are difficult to bleed). Once the ear is warm, I place a round cotton pad beneath the ear to protect my finger when I poke. Be sure the bevel on the lancet is up so that the sharpest edge of the lancet needle is able to puncture the skin. Also, wait a second for the ear to bleed. Sometimes the blood comes quickly to the surface, but other times I need to wait a second and gently 'milk' the ear to get the blood flowing.
 
Mary & Jude said:
Sometimes in the beginning, it takes a bit for the ear to 'learn' to bleed, but overtime this improves. Have you had a chance to look at these resources: Hometesting Links and Tips I don't use a lancing device because (as you've mentioned) I have a difficult time getting the poke in the small area on the edge of the ear. Also, the click of the lancing device startles my cat. So, I freehand. I use a rice sock (some people use baby socks filled with rice and tied at one end; I use baby mittens filled with rice and sewn together--warm in microwave for 10-15 seconds) to warm the ear (cold ears are difficult to bleed). Once the ear is warm, I place a round cotton pad beneath the ear to protect my finger when I poke. Be sure the bevel on the lancet is up so that the sharpest edge of the lancet needle is able to puncture the skin. Also, wait a second for the ear to bleed. Sometimes the blood comes quickly to the surface, but other times I need to wait a second and gently 'milk' the ear to get the blood flowing.
Click to expand...
Thank you for those tips! It’s good to know it can be slow at first while the ear learns to bleed. She doesn’t mind the click, and has been staying pretty calm, but it took a little bit this evening and her sugar was 291 (same as am); so it could’ve stressed her out a little. I’m looking forward to seeing those BG #s go down. She is starting to act more like herself.
 
Once the capillaries swell it will be much easier to draw blood, you can also squeeze softly at each side of where you pricked to force the blood out, it is recommended to also test at least 3-4 times during the day, to see how the insulin is working throughout the day between each shot
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top