Freestyle 0.05mm Blood 200 Lancets - 28g

Are Diabetic Lancets 28g Right for Your Blood Testing Routine?

If you test your blood glucose regularly, you'll know that the lancet you choose makes a real difference to your daily experience. The diabetic lancets 28g Freestyle 0.05mm Blood 200 Lancets offer an ultra-fine 0.05mm tip designed to make each finger prick as comfortable as possible — without compromising on the quality of the blood sample you need. At just £10.99 for a pack of 200, they represent straightforward, reliable value for anyone managing diabetes at home. You can explore the full range of monitoring supplies in our diabetes monitoring collection.

Blood glucose monitoring is a cornerstone of diabetes management. The NHS recommends that people with type 1 diabetes test their blood glucose levels multiple times daily, and many people with type 2 diabetes also test regularly depending on their treatment plan. Having a consistent, comfortable lancet helps you stick to that routine without dreading each test.

How Do These Lancets Work During a Finger-Prick Test?

Lancets are single-use, sterile needles that pierce the skin — typically the fingertip — to produce a small drop of capillary blood. That blood is then applied to a test strip and read by a blood glucose monitor. The mechanism is straightforward, but the design details matter enormously.

• The 28g gauge means the needle diameter is just 0.05mm — fine enough to minimise tissue trauma.
• Each lancet is individually sterile, reducing infection risk at the puncture site.
• The tip geometry is engineered for a clean, precise entry rather than a tearing motion.
• Once loaded into a compatible lancing device, the depth of penetration can usually be adjusted to suit your skin thickness.

The result? A quick, controlled puncture that produces an adequate blood sample with minimal discomfort — which matters when you're testing several times a day.

Who Should Use These Lancets?

These lancets are suitable for adults and, under appropriate clinical guidance, children who need to perform regular capillary blood glucose testing. They are particularly well suited to people who:

• Have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and self-monitor blood glucose at home.
• Find thicker-gauge lancets uncomfortable or are looking for a finer alternative.
• Test frequently and need a large, cost-effective pack.
• Use a standard lancing device compatible with universal lancets.

If you have particularly sensitive skin, poor circulation in your fingers, or any condition affecting wound healing, speak to your GP or diabetes nurse before changing your lancet type. Children should always use lancets under adult supervision and with guidance from their diabetes care team.

How Do These Lancets Compare to Other Gauges?

Are These Lancets Stored and Handled Correctly?

Proper storage keeps each lancet sterile until the moment you use it. Store the pack below 25°C in a dry location, away from direct sunlight and out of reach of children. Do not use a lancet if the individual packaging appears damaged or has been previously opened — sterility cannot be guaranteed in that case.

Used lancets must be disposed of immediately in an approved sharps container. Never place them in household waste or recycling. Your local council or GP surgery can advise on sharps bin collection. If you're also managing other aspects of your health alongside diabetes, our vitamins and supplements collection includes products that may support general wellbeing.

This product is a medical device. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before using if you have an underlying medical condition or are taking other medicines.

What Are These Lancets and What Are They Used For?

The Freestyle 0.05mm Blood 200 Lancets are sterile, single-use medical devices designed for capillary blood sampling. They are used primarily by people with diabetes to obtain a small drop of blood from the fingertip, which is then applied to a blood glucose test strip and read by a compatible monitor. Regular self-monitoring of blood glucose helps people with diabetes make informed decisions about food, physical activity, and medication — all of which are central to managing the condition effectively, as outlined by the NHS.

Each lancet in this pack is 28 gauge (0.05mm in diameter), making it one of the finer options available for home testing. The pack contains 200 lancets, giving you a substantial supply for ongoing daily use.

What Do You Need to Know Before Using These Lancets?

Before you begin using these lancets, there are some important safety points to be aware of:

• Do not use if the individual lancet packaging is torn, damaged, or has been previously opened.
• These lancets are for single use only — never reuse a lancet, as this blunts the tip and increases infection risk.
• Do not use on broken, infected, or inflamed skin.
• If you have a blood-borne infection (such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV), lancets must never be shared with another person under any circumstances.
• People with poor circulation, peripheral neuropathy, or impaired wound healing should seek advice from their GP or diabetes nurse before self-testing.
• Keep out of reach of children. Adult supervision is required when children use lancets.

Drug interactions: As a medical device rather than a medicine, these lancets do not interact with medications. However, certain medicines — such as corticosteroids, beta-blockers, and some diuretics — can affect blood glucose readings. Speak to your pharmacist if you are unsure how your medicines may influence your results.

• Corticosteroids may raise blood glucose levels.
• Beta-blockers may mask symptoms of hypoglycaemia.
• Always inform your diabetes care team of all medicines you are taking.

How Should You Use These Lancets Correctly?

Using a lancet correctly ensures you get a reliable blood sample and minimise discomfort. Follow these steps each time you test:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water, then dry completely.
2. Remove one lancet from the pack, keeping the protective cap on until ready to use.
3. Insert the lancet into your lancing device according to the device manufacturer's instructions.
4. Set the depth dial on your lancing device to a level appropriate for your skin thickness — start low and increase if needed.
5. Remove the lancet cap and place the lancing device firmly against the side of a fingertip.
6. Press the release button to perform the finger prick.
7. Gently squeeze the finger to encourage a small blood drop — avoid excessive squeezing, which can dilute the sample.
8. Apply the blood drop to your test strip as directed by your glucose monitor instructions.
9. Immediately place the used lancet into an approved sharps disposal container.

What Are the Possible Side Effects of Using These Lancets?

Because these are mechanical devices rather than medicines, side effects relate to the physical act of skin puncture rather than pharmacological action. Most people tolerate finger-prick testing well, particularly with a fine 28g lancet.

Common side effects:

• Mild pain or stinging at the puncture site.
• Small bruise or mark at the testing site.
• Minor bleeding that takes a moment to stop.
• Skin calluses with very frequent testing over time.

Less common side effects:

• Localised infection at the puncture site if hygiene is not maintained.
• Increased sensitivity or soreness with repeated testing on the same finger.
• Rarely, a small haematoma (blood blister) beneath the skin.

Rotating your testing sites across different fingers and different areas of each fingertip helps reduce cumulative skin trauma. If you notice signs of infection — redness, swelling, warmth, or discharge — contact your GP promptly. You can also find relevant first aid supplies in our first aid collection.

How Should You Store These Lancets?

• Store below 25°C in a cool, dry place.
• Keep away from direct sunlight and sources of heat.
• Do not store in a bathroom or near a sink where humidity is high.
• Keep the pack sealed until individual lancets are needed.
• Store out of reach and sight of children.
• Do not use lancets beyond the expiry date printed on the packaging.
• Dispose of used lancets immediately in an approved sharps container — never in household waste.

For broader diabetes management support, including glucose monitors and test strips, browse our electrical health and diagnostic collection.