Originally published June 19 2005
Researchers say diabetes testers used on palms are less painful
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
According to Fox News, a study conducted by the Diabetes and Glandular Disease Clinic found diabetes testers used on the palm gave just as accurate a blood sample as when used on the fingertips, but with less pain.
Sherwyn Schwartz, MD, of the Diabetes and Glandular Disease Clinic in San Antonio, and colleagues presented their study in San Diego, at the American Diabetes Association's 65th Annual Scientific Sessions.
Blood sugar samples were taken before and after a meal.
Blood was drawn from the palm or fingertips.
The post-meal tests spanned up to two hours for kids and four hours for adults.
The results showed that "palm testing is a suitable alternative to fingertip testing," say the researchers.
The palm has plenty of blood capillaries and fewer pain receptors than the fingertips.
Other body parts -- such as the forearm and thigh -- have also been proposed as alternate sites.
But the palm is easy to access, say Schwartz and colleagues.
People with diabetes don't need a new meter for the palm test, says an American Diabetes Association news release.
Patients should check with their doctor before making the change, but this new approach looks promising for decreasing the pain of blood sugar checks.
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