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Independently
& Honestly Road Testing
Liked: The original dial-a-depth has been shrunk and jazzed up. But it's still as solid and reliable as ever. See review of the original Softclix just below for more! Disliked: I'm not a fan of navy blue. That's it. Apart from the whole pricking and bleeding thing. Verdict: Does the job. I'd buy it. Reviewed: April 2006
Liked: The best bit I think is that it seems to be a lot more sturdy than my older device and it pricks really fast so IT HURTS LESS! I didn't realise how good it was until I got a free SoftTouch or something with a new metre the other day. I threw the freebie in the bin because after years of using this SoftClix the difference was huge, for me at least! I use it set on 3 (you can choose 1 to 6) and sometimes 2 if it's hot but I don't tend to bother changing the 'depth' often. It uses different lancets (flat ones) to other devices but that's no hassle - they cost the same and are available from DAV. I've had this for 5 years now and it's been around the world twice and I've never had a single problem with it. Well, I do stare at it occasionally and wish I didn't have to use it at all. Disliked: It's quite loud now I think about it, which can be embarassing if you're trying to be inconspicuous. And it's a bit chunkier than others so doesn't quite fit properly in the case of my Precision, but I can still squeeze it in so no worries there. Verdict: As good as there is until we get non-invasive testing! Reviewed: April 2001  Vaculance, from Bayer / Microlet Price: around $40 Liked: A true sign that drug companies are listening to the customers! I meet lots of people who are quite traumatised by having sore and massacred finger tips - be they pianists, guitarists, typists, mechanics, anyone who works with their hands, or anyone anyone. So for many this will be a welcome relief, if not revolutionary. (And I'm relieved to have an answer to one more question that people regularly ask!) It can be used on the palm of your hand, thighs, forearms and there's a diagram that comes with it to explain this. It pricks and then suctions up your skin to get the drop of blood out. Take the lancet out and there's hours of fun to be had with the sucking thing! Disliked: For me, it's not such an issue right now (would have been great when I was playing the violin & piano in high school, and my solution was not to test at all round concerts/exams and all the time actually!). Despite all my efforts it actually didn't squeeze up enough blood for the machine I'm using (Precision) to work - but maybe I need a new matching Bayer machine? And I hate to admit that when it comes to needles and finger pricks, I'm not too good on change ... this brought back those feelings I had when I started doing my injections myself. Sitting in my room with the needle hovering around for 20 minutes before closing my eyes full of tears, breathing in and going for it ... well not that bad this time around (14 years later), but I did hesitate and whince at the unexpected! Verdict: I'm sticking with the old method for now but if you're sick of sore fingers, and tougher than me, definitely give it a go. Actually, I'll put it in the cupbaord for that rainy day when I'm feeling tougher and more fed up with sore fingers! Reviewed: May 2001
 Pelikan
Sun, from
Diabetes Australia-NSW
Price: $332 RRP for the lancing device, plus $20 for two 50-lancet, single-use-only wheels that go in the back, so 20 cents per prick. Liked: Funky packaging! That's about where the good bits end...I initially thought it was an all in one BGL meter and lancing device, but I was sorely disappointed to find out it's not. Setup: Not entirely intuitive. Poor instructions, not too bad if you're a wiz-kid. Could do with an "L" on the completely non-descript, white button that in fact starts the lancing process and a label for the lancet load lever on the side. The two most important features have no labels. There are a gazzillion different depth settings for each part of each finger. Probably OK once you work that out, but then you have to remember them all. Large depth setting display, other unintuitive screen images. Test sensation: It tingles for a while after drawing blood. I agree with their claim that it hurts less and the bleeding stops sooner, but the slow speed of insertion and removal (their technique for doing less damage), makes it worse, in my opinion. The sound of the whirring windup, the anticipation of the impending sting and then the slow withdrawing of the needle as it goes back in really gets the heart racing. I much prefer the instantaneous prick that is over as soon as you brush the button. Finally, the seal around the lancing hole must be completely void of light or it will not function (laser drawback). Overall advantages: Big size for those with poor motor skills. Won't get lost in your handbag. I suppose it would delay or reduce callouses on fingers if that is a problem for you. No reusing of lancets could reduce any chance of infection. Lancets are always new and sharp causing less trauma to the skin. Overall disadvantages: Too big for me, won't fit in my meter case. Waaaaaaay too expensive for something that only pricks your finger plus very expensive consumables. No lock button, so always scared it will go off in my handbag and waste lancets (so I keep it in the packaging). Horrible gold colour. Mental trauma of anticipating prick is nasty. Can't reuse lancets (debatable). Verdict: I wouldn't buy it, purely because of its massive size. Reviewed: June 2006 See some discussion about the Pelikan on our Forum.
More road tests of blood glucose monitors
This page updated 16 June, 2006
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leaves a more noticeable
scar. A leaky wound in a less obvious place will also be less noticed
by you (until someone tells you, for example, that there is blood
on the side of your shirt OR your neck . . ha! explain
that one!). The only spot I found that goes well with this device
is the fleshy edge of the hand (see pic >>>). There aren't
too many nerve endings there so it is only mildly painful and this
part also heals fast without scaring. It is also very accessible.
However it will still take about 15 secs to get a useful drop of
blood. The Vaculance is 147mm (or 5 ¾") long and 20mm
(¾") wide and will fit quite nicely in your Medisense Precision
wallet.
