Genteel Plus - No Prick Pain Vacuum Lancing Device for Diabetes Testing - Blood Sugar, Glucose, Ketone, and DNA Home Tests (Buff Black)

Okay let's talk stabbing yourself. Over and over, day after day, and year after year. Let's talk about the trepidation of pain-- that time when you slowly creep up on hitting the button because you know it's going to hurt like hell no matter WHERE you put it (Alternate site or especially the fingertips (the sides even.) Even with 33 guage micro lancets, my nerves hate me. They absolutely HATE me when I lace anywhere on my body. When I go to the doctor for the A1C, my finger throbs for hours after (no joke.) I flinch when I lance my fingers. It hurts when I use my arm. The pad of the hand? Oh, lordy. Worst pain ever. I feel it for a while after.Enter the Genteel lancing device.I was skeptical.I tried it on my arm first and had to use the 2nd tip to even get blood. That was ok because it still worked. I've used a few meters. Some like the Easy Touch were completely unforgiving about blood drop size, and they didn't allow OOPS-add more. I've used the Contour Next (0.6 microliters) and the Freedom/Freestyle Freedom Lite (0.3 microliter drops) that lets you add more. This lancing unit will, more often than not, get the amount needed for the Easy Touch without a need for a little up and down milking motion before releasing the vacuum. It would always give me enough for the Freestyle Freedom Lite. (You know that feeling, folks-- you stare at the blood drop and you know you are in better control because the blood barely wants to come out that day, or you know your sugar is high because that drop is right there immediately-- either way, this thing gets the blood.)Pros: I know what you're thinking. Painless? Hah. What just about every place means is "pain lesser", usually. I can honestly say this is the FIRST lancing device (and I've used them all from the standard one that comes in the kit to the side-purchases in the effort to not hurt as much) that actually doesn't make me flinch when I lance my finger. I can push the trigger now (after about a week of being dubious and sneaking up to pulling the trigger) hold the vacuum, release the button, collect the drop-- all without wincing. I know some of you are truckers and it doesn't bother you. You're used it-- that's great, but I never did. Whether I test on my arm or on my finger, I don't even hesitate anymore pressing the trigger. I just put the tip up to my skin, create the vacuum, and press. Done.This alone makes it worth every penny. Was I skeptical? Oh yes.Does it really work? Yes, indeed.Do you feel it? Yes, but while you feel the stick (sometimes) it is not a PAINFUL sensation, and that is what counts. I don't feel the OW--pull away sensation that I do with others.it comes with an emergency contact card in the case. Damn, how useful. I never even realized how great that was until I saw it.Everything FITS in the case, which is an added bonus: tips, glucose log, extra lancets, alcohol wipes, and even a few pen needles if you so choose. While some people may want "small and discreet" I prefer "functional and useful" and this fits the bill. The case is just big enough to hold everything I'd need before and after I lance. I can't really ask for more than that. The bag is branded Gentell with a butterfly on it. It doesn't scream "Hi I'm a lancing device and holding a glucose meter inside." If someone recognizes it, the already know what a Genteel is, so that's a different story.The case comes with a place to be belt mounted and has a hand strap. Both work well, just don't get so exited that you swing it around and smack someone in the face with it, and you'll be fine.Cons: the bag that comes with it is "universal" and it doesn't fit my test strip container very well. I had to struggle getting it in there. It fits-- barely. It's elastic, so it did work, eventually.The velcro tabs have to be permanently installed on your meter to work. This doesn't quite work for my meter unless I put it over the battery cover. (Otherwise I can't open it). Now... every so often I pull it off the velcro and get my meter... and the cover... in 2 pieces in my hand.Sometimes pressing the trigger is awkward. I feel like I'm pressing it, but it's not triggering. I'm getting better at it, but it was something awkward when I first started over to my switch.Overall: Investment of funds aside, if you are going to pay for lancing device, this one makes up for the many I have purchased in the hopes they would do what this was actually does: take the ouch out of lancing yourself. It might take a few tries to find the right tip size for each area you test. (I use blue for my finger sticks, and yellow for alternate sites-- you may find it different). I can definitely see the use of this over a normal lancing for children if you want to not have them "fear" the stick and be willing to do it to themselves. (Hey this comes with cheerful stickers to apply... and I'm almost tempted to use them, and I'm an adult!)Last con: you shouldn't use it for more than one person, so I can't just let someone borrow it and go "LOOK HOW AWESOME THIS WORKS".You'll have to take my word that it worked for me very well. I'm a finger sticking hater, and I don't mind it anymore. To me, that makes this thing worth it. If you are reading this, searching for a less painful device, then I hope this helps you.

I was recently diagnosed with Diabetes. I was given one option and one option only in what device I could use to help monitor my blood sugar. I spent weeks back and forth with both my doctor and my health insurance to put me on a new device but it was all for not. The lance I was using before was very much broken, even though I didn't know it was, and I was forced to poke myself over a hundred times a day. Quick reference, I have very sensitive skin and poking my fingertips causes issues so I poke my arm instead. After much complaining to my doctor they just suggested I test myself once or twice a week which I took as them just wanting me off their back so I stopped testing all together. My blood sugar was within normal range to slightly high so it wasn't that big of a deal.Then comes a new medication that boosts my blood sugar to dangerous numbers. I wasn't feeling right one day and decided to check my blood sugar, 422. I about had a heart attack. I started walking more than once a day, started eating much healthier than what I was and started testing my blood several times a day. By the second day I was just tired of all the poking and my arm was hurting and fatigued. I had to find a better way so I bought a new monitor and lance. Neither are covered by insurance but at this point I was desperate. Got the new monitor in Contour Next One. I wanted this monitor because it can test without the need of a lot of blood. Used the lance it came with and realized my old lance was broken. My old lance had an adjustable position system for the lancet to move up or down depending on the distance the tester needed to draw blood but mine didn't seem to work. The new lance did and I quickly found that sometimes the lance still hurt.Queue taking a giant leap in purchasing this lance. I hated the price, I mean I changed my mind so many times that it felt like I was breaking the Amazon website by how often I was adding and then deleting this lance from my cart. Finally I just shut my eyes turned away while I blindly ordered this lance. The day I opened this product I was intimidated by how well made it is. I expected something so cheap and fragile, like all the other lances I've seen. Because of its design I contributed that to how awful it'll be to use. I didn't feel a thing and it drew enough blood to test twice over. Sure it took a little trial and error to get the end size to draw that much blood but not a single time did it hurt. To be honest, until I lifted the lance I didn't think it worked at all until I saw that beautiful red dot on my arm begging to be scooped up by my test strip.I love this lance and am still surprised by how much it doesn't hurt. Yes it costs a lot for just a lance but I'm convinced it was a worthwhile investment into my journey with diabetes. If you read this far then thank you and if you are on the fence on this purchase like I was, take the leap it's so worth it. Also, if you were thinking of buying this for a child just know it comes with stickers for them to make the lance their own which is such a great idea in my opinion. Did I mention this lance doesn't hurt, just a reminder for those thinking of buying this for a child. No pain!