How Do You Get Over The Fear Of Using A Lancet For Diabetes?
Thursday, February 11th, 2010
I was diagnosed with diabetes not long ago, and I’m afraid to using my lancet because of the sudden stab, does anyone have any tips on how to get over this fear?
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Tags: Diabetes, Fear, Lancet, Over, Using
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Anonymou says:
February 11th, 2010
5:54 pm
I was just like you!!! I was diagnosed with type 1 and was put in the hospital for a week. The first day they gave me a needle and said “put it in your stomach” and I was perfectly fine with doing that, wasn’t scared, didn’t even hesitate. Then they came out with one of those finger prick things and told me to stick my finger. I was like “HELL NO”, then they told me that I wasn’t going to be able to leave the hospital without being able to do it. I though about it, it is only in your finger for not even a half of second and IF it hurts, it will go away quickly. I think that pricking my finger is worth doing if I can get a few extra years on my life. The first time I was able to do it, I concentrated on something like the TV or talk to someone when you are poking your finger so your brain is focused on that and not the tiny needle going into your finger. It is not as bad as what you think it is going to be. Good luck : ) You will get the hang of it and in a bit, you will be asking yourself why you were scared of something so small.
Anonymous says:
February 11th, 2010
7:21 pm
Make sure to use a new lancet, they dull and hurt worse if you reuse them. The fact is that to treat yourself and keep track of your diabetes you need to use the lancet. Keeping this as a matter of fact every day occurrence helps in the acceptance of what you need to do. Once you accept the facts of it, a small quick jab will be over and you can move on. I found it difficult to use the lancet holder, it seemed to go to deep until my fingers got tougher. I took to just holding the lancet it self and pressing it into the side of my finger. That took away the surprise of it and helped me control the depth. Your fingers do get tougher after a bit and if you use the holder you can usually adjust the depth with an adjusting wheel. Your fingers should be warm for an easier draw and I’ve found that it doesn’t hurt as much either. Often a new habit is hard to keep up, but once a change is part of your accepted everyday lifestyle, it is not so difficult. It is after all, not in the norm to poke yourself with a sharp implement so give yourself a chance to get accustomed and then you won’t think about much at all but do it to keep track of your health. Best of luck.
Monica says:
February 11th, 2010
7:23 pm
You just get used to it. If it helps you, my 3 year old daughter is type 1, and I test her over 10 times per day. She’s had diabetes since she was 2, for well over a year now. She has no fear of the lancet whatsoever, she will even come and ask me to take her blood sugar sometimes.
This may sound funny, but try counting to 3 and hitting the release button on 3. And keep it on a setting where you have to press the lancet firmly on your finger in order for it to work. I discovered the counting thing because I had been doing it for my daughter before a lancet poke for so long that I automatically started counting when I take my own blood sugar. For some reason that makes it easier.
Bolt says:
February 12th, 2010
12:35 am
Some meters come with nonadjustable lancet devices. If your is not adjustable, you can buy an adjustable one at the pharmacy or Walmart (SoftClix, or something like that, I believe is the name). You need deeper penetration of the lancet pen if 1-you reuse the same lancet (it becomes dull) and 2-your fingers will form callouses from the use of the lancet
towanda says:
February 12th, 2010
4:15 am
Yes . . .it stings but read about uncontrolled blood sugar and understand that diabetes is progressive. You take it lightly and don’t follow what you should be eating and you get a step worse. You can’t go back. Stick yourself, check your sugar level and act accordingly and let no one stray you off your course. You can say it isn’t serious and play around and you will take more and more meds until you wonder what do you do when there is nothing else to take. But by then you don’t have to worry because you will be suffering all the horror that diabetes will bring and there is no going back. Sounds severe. It is. Been there and done that and now I have kidney damage and there is no going back. Take my advice and really watch what you eat and monitor yourself like your life depends on it. It does. Good luck.
German Shepard says:
February 12th, 2010
5:02 am
When you do your morning fasting test make sure you have no shoes or socks on. This is very important because first you have to count your toes and then remember that if you do not control your BG you will lose not only your toes but also your eyesight. Which is worse, a small painless prick or amputations??? Your call!
Peter M says:
February 12th, 2010
8:54 am
Are you type 1? How will you handle the syringe? The lancet becomes a “piece of cake” after a while. I still get a sting sometimes but I never know when I am going to feel it or not so it really is no big deal. Try to keep in your head all the times you REALLY got hurt and you’ll get over the itty bitty lancet!
Erin says:
February 12th, 2010
11:24 am
If you do it correctly, you will only feel a small pinch, if you feel anything at all. It doesn’t hurt.
Bree says:
February 12th, 2010
3:53 pm
Do it on the side of you finger instead of the middle.
wuzcuz2 says:
February 12th, 2010
10:23 pm
have someone else do it for a while.