Uses of Lancets

Diabetics use lancets on a daily basis and they are also used in several surgical procedures. They can be used by themselves or in a spring-activated lancing device, depending on your preference. They are used to monitor blood glucose, perform blood tests and to drain boils and abscesses. They may be used on various parts of the body. They come in various sizes for comfort and to make drawing a blood drop from the lancing site easier.

Diabetes

• Lancets are used commonly in diabetes to check blood sugar levels. Many people prefer to use a lancing device with a spring to force the lancet into the skin and then retract it very quickly. These devices also allow the user to change the depth of penetration caused by the lancet depending on the sensitivity of the finger being lanced or if the skin is thick or calloused. Lancing for diabetes is often done on a daily basis and has to be repeated to check blood sugar levels. There are many lancing devices on the market in case a diabetic has trouble drawing enough blood from the finger or if lancing is extremely painful.

Blood Sampling

• As with lancing for blood sugar levels, lancets used to take blood samples prick the finger to cause bleeding. Lancets for blood samples have points that come in different widths called "gauges." The higher the number of the gauge, the smaller the incision it creates. Some people feel that higher-number gauges are less painful to use than the smaller gauges, but it is harder to obtain a drop of blood from the higher-gauge lancets. For example, a 23-gauge lancet would create a larger hole in the finger than a 30-gauge lancet. Lancing is routinely done for blood work.

Draining Lancets

• Some lancets are used to make small incisions to drain boils and abscesses. In the case of boils, doctors are able to drain the pus by first numbing the area and then lancing it. The doctor will lance the head of the boil, cover the wound with gauze and then insert a wick into the area to allow it to continue draining. Treatment is then up to the patient, who must change and clean the affected area daily. Many abscesses on different parts of the body can be drained. For example, pyogenic liver abscesses and splenic abcesses may be surgically drained.

Lancing Trouble

• Some people, despite using different gauges and lancing devices, still have trouble obtaining a properly sized droplet for blood glucose monitoring or for blood sampling. In this situation, the Diabetes Self-Management website supplies some helpful tips. Washing hands in warm water, hanging your hands at your side, or shaking your hands vigorously may help increase blood supply to the fingertips. If none of these actions help, you can try "milking" the blood from the lanced area by squeezing the fingertip. Starting at the knuckle, you should slide down the length of the finger, coaxing out a drop of blood.

Conclusion

• Lancing is a safe and necessary activity for some people. Spring-loaded mechanisms have made the idea of lancing yourself easy and virtually painless. Lancing is still used in medical settings to help drain puss and fluids from an infected area. You can get used to lancing, as it is minimally painful, and practice it regularly with little trouble. Diabetic devices are making blood glucose monitoring easier with each new invention. If you are lancing yourself, be sure to follow all directions carefully to avoid unnecessary pain and difficulty in drawing blood.