Product Review: Lancing Device by ReliOn

Those of us with diabetes need to check our blood sugar levels several times a day with a glucometer. Basically, we have to stick a sharp needle into our fingers to get a drop of blood to go on a strip that fits inside our glucometer. Then we wait a few seconds for the test results. Right now I'm having to test myself seven times a day, I've got the holey fingers to prove it. I finally got fed up with the lancing pen that came with my glucometer, because it was painful to use. If you are thinking that poking yourself with a needle is supposed to hurt, you are right. However, there are different levels of pain and why subject yourself to more pain than you have to?

So I went out to the pharmacy to see what was available. I bought the Reli On^© Lancing Device because the pharmacist on duty said it was known to be less painful and the lancets I had for my lancing device would work with it. He told the truth. Yes, it does hurt to stick yourself with the needle, but not nearly as bad as the lancing pen that came with my glucometer. The ReliOn^© Lancing Device has a statement on the back of their box that says "Designed for use with most brands of lancets." It did work with mine.

On the front of the box they claim that the ReliOn^© Lancing Device has "5 depth settings to help make blood testing less painful." When I was in the store I wasn't impressed by that statement, because every lancing device I have used has had different settings. In case you want to know, I had it on the lowest setting and it worked for me. On the lancing device that came with my glucometer I had it set nearly to its highest setting, just to get it to work. I would have been more impressed by a statement on the ReliOn^© Lancing Device box telling me that it was a less painful than most lancing devices than the different settings option. For those of you on Medicare it states on the box that it is "Covered by Medicare Part B."

Also in the box is a booklet giving instructions (in English and Spanish) on how to use the lancing device with lots of photos, 10 ReliOn^© Ultra Thin Lancets, two caps: one for the standard pricking of the fingers and the other Is a clear cap for what they call "alternate site testing." They don't explain where or what an alternative site is though. For those of you who need to know, good alternative areas are the forearms, thighs, or your stomach area; basically, where the skin is thinner.

In small print it states that the lancing device is "Made in Japan," but it is manufactured for Can-Am Care, LLC in Alpharetta, GA. I found the ReliOn© Lancing Device at Wal-Mart for $7.84.

Bottom line: I highly recommend the ReliOn^© Lancing Device.

ReliOn's contact information:
1-800-461-7448
www.relion.com