Lancets

The type of lancet you’ll need to use with your lancing device will depend on the device itself.

Some lancing devices are designed to be used with universal lancets, giving you more options as you find the most comfortable and effective lancets for you.

On the other hand, some lancing devices, such as Accu-Chek FastClix, need to use specific lancets from the same manufacturer.

If you’re not sure which lancet you need for your lancing device, take a look at the information leaflet that came with your device, this will let you know where to find the right lancets.

You can test your blood sugar at home by using a traditional home glucose monitoring system, where you prick your finger to draw out a drop of blood to put on the test strip.

Place the strip into the meter that displays the blood sugar levels and record the level in case your healthcare provider needs to see the results.

Having a blood sugar reader at home enables you to check your sugar levels multiple times a day, helping you to keep an eye on your results so your healthcare provider can let you know how much medication to take.

It’s very important to dispose of single-use lancets or any other sharps safely and responsibly.

If you have diabetes and are monitoring your blood sugar at home, your GP can prescribe something called a sharps bin, which you can use to dispose of your used lancets safely.

When your bin is full, you can arrange for it to be collected and disposed of by your local council, giving you peace of mind in knowing that you’ve disposed of your sharps safely.

It’s a good idea to tie your testing times into daily events, that way, you’ll always remember to check your levels.

It’s best to test your blood sugar before all three of your meals, after exercise, and before you go to sleep.

It’s important to test before you eat as fasting glucose levels will give you a better, truer reading - if you forget and need to test after a meal, you should wait a couple of hours to ensure your reading is accurate.