Regular blood glucose testing (or blood sugar checking) forms the foundation of successful diabetes management.

However, many people are put off testing by the inconvenience and pain. In fact, 35% of people with diabetes said pain was the principal reason for not testing¹.

So how can you make this less of a hurdle in your self-care?

1. Select a less painful lancing device (or finger pricking device).

Naturally, one factor that can contribute to the pain is your lancing device. That’s why we have worked hard to ensure that Accu-Chek® lancing devices keep discomfort and pain to a minimum. For example, our innovative lancing devices feature:

• Clixmotion® technology that minimises side-to-side motion, so there is less skin tearing^2,3.
• 11 customisable depth settings to help match your skin type.
• Precisely manufactured, tapered, small in diameter lancets (or needles) to ensure smoother entry in to the skin³.

2. Make sure the depth setting suits the skin type.

The penetration depth should be set to the shallowest possible depth for the skin type. Softer, thinner skin requires a shallower setting than thicker skin.

Pressing the lancing device firmly against the skin keeps the skin taut, allowing the lancet to penetrate the skin better.

3. Change the lancet every time.

Most people only change their lancets when they can feel they are busy getting blunt, however the lancet should be changed after each test³. Multiple uses results in the tip of the lancet becoming dull, which increases the feeling of pain.

4. Wash and warm hands before lancing (or finger pricking).

Cold hands have poor circulation. To improve circulation, hands should be washed in warm water, then dried. Fingers that are wet, or have traces of sugar, can produce results that are inconsistent⁴.

5. Lance (or prick) on the side for less sensitive fingertips.

As the pad of the fingertip is more sensitive, lancing the side of the fingertip is best⁴. You should also change the finger you lance regularly, so fingertips have time to heal.

The Accu-Chek® lancing devices are designed to ensure less pain is experienced, however in order to take full advantage of this benefit, the device must be used correctly. Lancing devices are specifically designed to be used by one person only. There are other lancing devices such as the Accu-Chek® Safe-T-Pro Uno that has been designed for a multiple patient use setting such as a clinic or a hospital. The Accu-Chek® Safe-T-Pro Uno can only be used once. It is therefore important to never share your lancing device. Address the pain issues you may have been experiencing with testing your blood glucose and do not allow it to become the reason for not monitoring your blood glucose optimally.

Experience virtually pain-free lancing^5,6 today!

Simply visit your nearest pharmacy and ask for an Accu-Chek® lancing device for virtually pain-free lancing!

Click on the Accu-Chek® FastClix OR the Accu-Chek® SoftClix to see how these lancing devices work.