Painless Testing

Painless Testing for Diabetes

Painless testing, otherwise known as alternative-site testing, refers to blood glucose testing without pricking finger, and doing your diabetes testing on other parts of the body. These alternate sites include: forearms, upper-arms, thighs, base of the thumb, stomach areas, and more. Because there are less nerve endings in these areas, pain is greatly reduced…even sometimes described as “painless”. Not all alternate-site testing meters have been FDA approved for all areas mentioned. Compare blood glucose meters and refer to the meter's operating instructions for details on which areas can be used for painless diabetes testing.

Order your painless glucose monitor from Support Plus Medical today! Medicare and many private insurance companies will pay for painless glucose monitors. Fill out our form to find out if you’re eligible for free diabetic testing supplies.

The term "multi-site testing" can also be used to refer to a meter which is capable of both alternate-site and finger-stick testing.

Multi-Site Diabetic Testing

The term "multi-site diabetic testing" can also be used to refer to glucose monitors, which are capable of diabetic monitoring through both alternate-site and finger stick tests. Here are the glucose monitors currently allowing both types of diabetic testing:

• Freestyle Glucose Monitor by TheraSense
• Glucometer/Ascensia Elite by Bayer
• Glucometer/Ascensia Elite XL by Bayer
• Glucometer/Ascensia DEX by Bayer
• AccuChek Compact Glucose Monitor by Roche
• AccuChek Active Glucose Monitor by Roche

Vaculance: Lancing Device

The Vaculance offers another option for alternate-site testing. This lancing device creates a vacuum to easily draw blood to the surface. The Vaculance can be used with most painless glucose monitors. Please note: this lancing device can only be used in alternate-site testing, and cannot be used on fingers.

How Accurate are Painless Glucose Monitors?

Studies have shown that readings will vary when testing on other areas of the body. This is partially due to the circulation of the blood. The fingertips will provide a more accurate reading when glucose levels are rapidly changing. This is important to understand when you are determining your insulin injections or watching for hypoglycemia.

Why Use Alternate-Site Testing?

Fingertips have a high number of nerve endings compared to the alternate sites, so when you test with alternate sites, you reduce the pain of diabetic monitoring. This can offer additional relief if you use your fingertips for typing, musical instruments or other tasks. Here are some other factors to consider when looking into alternate-site diabetic testing:

• The amount of body hair in the allowed testing areas can interfere with the test by causing blood to smear.
• Do you have easy access to the areas you can test on - or do you wear stockings, long pants, long sleeves, etc.?
• Do you bleed easily and could this be a concern for the clothing covering those areas?

While completely painless testing for diabetes may not be possible - alternative site blood glucose testing (without pricking finger) - pain is greatly reduced. Although there are advantages there are also some disadvantages to alternate-site testing. It is important to review and compare blood glucose meters.

Interested in ordering a painless glucose meter? Support Plus Medical can help you order the supplies you need for alternate-site testing. Also, we can help you find out if Medicare or private insurance company pays for painless glucose monitors. Fill out our form to find out if you’re eligible for free diabetic testing supplies.

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Manufacturer Recommendations
When NOT to Use Alternate-Site Testing

Review when the manufacturers recommend when not to test on alternate sites.

Abbott - MediSense/Precision

Advises using a fingertip sample when you are testing because you think your blood glucose is too low or if you have lost the ability to know when your blood glucose has fallen.

Bayer - Glucometer/Ascensia

Recommends fingertip sampling when testing blood glucose less than two hours after a meal, less than two hours after taking medication or less than two hours after exercise. If you plan to use alternate sites for blood-glucose testing, please consult your healthcare professional

LifeScan - OneTouch

Advises users to test from the fingertip when testing less than two hours after meals, insulin does or physical exercise. At all other times, including routine testing before meals, users can test from either the fingertip or the arm. LifeScan advises consulting healthcare professional before alternate site testing

Roche Diagnostics - Accu-Chek

Recommends testing with blood from your fingertip under the following conditions:

1. When your blood glucose levels are rapidly increasing/decreasing
2. When you think your blood glucose is extremely low
3. If you have a history of not knowing when you are hypoglycemic
4. Immediately following a meal
5. Up to two hours after injecting rapid-acting insulin

TheraSense - Freestyle

Recommends testing on the fingertip when you think your blood-glucose is low or if you suffer from hypoglycemia unawareness. At all other times, including routine testing before and after meals, users can test on alternate sites.