What Size Lancet do i Need? Wash your hands with warm, soapy water. Dry your hands thoroughly. 2. Load the new lancet into the lancing device. Remove the plastic end. 3. Replace the diabetes lancet's cover, and pick a depth from the device dial settings. Most glucose lancet devices offer at least 2-3 settings, with some offering up to 10 various settings. The higher the depth setting, the deeper and more forceful the stick. Most people don't require a high setting unless they work with their hands and have tough, thick skin. 4. Prick the side of the finger to draw a droplet of blood. The side of the finger is preferable because fingertips have more nerve endings. 5. Place the drop of blood directly onto the strip. 6. Remove the used lancet from the lancing device. Dispose of diabetes lancets properly in a red container or heavy plastic container used for needles. Check with your state on how to dispose of lancets properly in your area. Don't share lancet needles. Change Fingers: Alternating fingers can help prevent scarring or skin calluses. Don't use the same finger every time you take a blood sample. Alternate Site Testing: Some lancing devices allow you to take samples from other areas of the body besides the side of the fingers. For example, some diabetes lancets can be used on the palm of the hand or forearm. Check with your health care professional before using alternate testing sites. Alternate sites may not be as accurate, especially when rapid changes are happening to your blood sugar levels, which could be due to meal time, sickness, infection, sleep or exercise. What size lancet do I need? Diabetes lancets come in multiple sizes and brands that often match the diabetes glucose meter they are being used with. Usually, the blood glucose meter you are using will have the size of the lancet needed within its instructions to use with the meter. However, if you're unsure, the most standard lancet size is 30 gauge.