#Genteel Review
Sandra
O the excitement box arrived open it up to find pretty pink but “Large” lancet device. Casey aged 9 loved the stickers, first thing she did was decorate it . However it was a different story when it came to putting it to use. After we set up our new Genteel she had a very worried look on her face we sat at the kitchen table watched other kids on u tube she started and stopped as quick….. 40 mins later after a lot of persuasion she finally allowed me to use the Genteel on her palm.
First tip nothing happened second tip a little dot tried the suction on same spot without lancet still not enough blood. Third tip and hay presto we got enough to test.
Casey has now tried her shoulder arm top and bottom both sides of her palm and finger we compared old lancet pen on finger to Genteel on other parts of body and below are a few results:
Bill
Started using the Genteel finger prick this week, so thought I'd give a report. Caitriona, 10, started using it first. Aoife, 13, is a bit unsure so we'll give her some time. Although Caitriona says it hurts way less than normal finger pricks (did a personal test and she's right), it wasn't drawing much blood, no matter where she tested.
However, she was immediately happy to test almost anywhere other than her fingers, so that's great and gives her fingers a much needed break. I queried with a couple of other Genteel users whether the small amount of blood was normal, and the consensus seems to be that the body needs to get used to the Genteel and will produce more blood in time, and that playing around with the various contact tips helps.
So far so good, but the real surprise was when Caitriona started using the Genteel before testing on her Accu-Chek Mobile (she had been testing on her Abbott FreeStyle). The FreeStyle often wasn't registering a result with so little blood, but this is where the Accu-Chek Mobile seems to come into its own.
As anyone who has one knows, although they're handy in terms of no strips and the lancet being attached, they can be a bit awkward to use, and any movement of the finger or smearing of blood during testing can throw up an error.
However, even with a tiny drop of blood, and testing from the arm where there's less shake and movement, particularly if the child is low, the Accu-Chek now seems to register every time. That's a result in our book as both girls love using the Accu-Chek during the day, and we use the FreeStyle on them at night when asleep as we find it less frustraing.
So, while we may think the amount of blood drawn by the Genteel is small, a) that may get better and b) it works a treat anyway with Caitriona's preferred meter, and above all it does seem to be a lot less painful than standard finger pricks. A long winded way of saying it looks like a good decision at this point.
After sending the Reviews to Genteel we received the following Support by Email.
Thanks for forwarding on your Genteel review. I very much appreciate your feedback, and that of your users. We are always interested in as much feedback as possible, so this is very helpful.
Please allow me to respond to some of their comments, not for you to make any changes, but perhaps just by way of clarification and explanation.
1. Yes, Genteel IS bigger than the conventional lancing devices, simply because it has to be. Within the tube, itself, is all the technology that makes it painless. If Genteel were the size of other devices, its patented benefits would not be possible.
2. Yes, that short time to work with the different Contact Tips is critical in finding the right one(s) to optimize the draw. These Tips control exactly how deep the lancet goes into the blood capillaries (and NOT touch the pain nerves), so because everyone's skin thickness/blood viscosity is different, they have to work with each to find that "sweet spot" of the perfect blood draw with zero discomfort. Once they find the right one for both fingers and alternate sites, they never have to change them again, so it is a one time mission!
3. Not getting enough blood can be a result of either (1) the wrong lancets (hopefully they only used the ones that came with the Kit), (2) a too-"gentle" Contact Tip for the test site, (3) not holding down the Activation Button long enough for the vacuum to work (the longer you hold down the button, the more time the vacuum has to work (2-10 seconds); also, sometimes gently "pumping" Genteel up and down during the draw allows the vacuum to work faster), or (4) a body site where the capillaries may be a bit deeper under the skin. Often changing body sites can be extremely helpful, such as testing on the palms (just below the pinkie, or at the base of the thumb where it joins the palm). This site gives readings virtually identical to fingers. Also, one inch above the knee is a great site! Lots of blood capillaries and almost no pain nerves!
Interestingly, we have found the FreeStyle Lite meter to be the most accurate, and also works amazingly with a smaller drop of test blood.
Finally, make certain the user removes their finger off the Activation Button before taking Genteel off their skin. Else, the vacuum will continue to draw, and can smear that blood drop into the Nozzle.
I am always here to answer any questions or concerns, Davina, so please stay in touch with me if I can help in any way.
In closing, here are two super-cute videos we just got in from kids using Genteel. Hope you enjoy!
Finally, in case it is helpful, here is our instructional video:
www.mygenteel.com/instructions. Lots of helpful tips on how to maximize Genteel, and some additional benefits, like testing on the palms, and the potential to draw without a lancet (called re-draw).
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