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Lancets and lancing needles
Single-use needles for the finger-prick device that comes with a glucose meter.
Good forPeople with diabetes who test at home
- Price and delivery confirmed first
- A nurse can advise before you buy
- Set-up help when it is needed
What it is, and who it helps
Lancets are the tiny single-use needles used in a finger-prick device to draw the drop of blood for a glucose test. They are cheap, but a fresh one every time is safer, less painful and gives a better sample.
Most devices take standard lancets in a range of gauges, and a finer needle hurts less. Older people with thick or dry skin may need a slightly stronger setting.
How to choose
- Check that the lancets fit your lancing device, or buy them together.
- Choose a fine gauge for comfort, and a device with adjustable depth.
- Look for sterile, individually capped lancets in a box with an expiry date.
- Buy a sharps container or a puncture-proof bottle for used lancets.
Using it safely
- Use a new lancet for every test, and never share a lancet or device with anyone.
- Dispose of used lancets in a hard container with a lid, never loose in the bin.
- Wash and dry hands before testing, and press the site until the bleeding stops.
Before you buy
Can I reuse a lancet?
It is not recommended. Used lancets become blunt, cause more pain and can carry infection.
Where should I prick?
The sides of the fingertips hurt less than the pads. Change fingers each time.
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General information, not medical advice. Ask a doctor, nurse or physiotherapist what is right for your parent.
Often chosen together
Blood glucose meter with strips
Easy-to-read meter, lancets and test strips.
Blood glucose test strips
Test strips made for a specific meter. Always buy the ones that match your meter.
Continuous glucose monitoring sensor
A small sensor worn on the arm that tracks sugar levels day and night and sends them to a reader or phone.
Not sure this is the right one?
A nurse can suggest the right choice, arrange delivery and show how to use it.