Blood glucose measurements using finger pricks has always been the Gold standard. This method has been thoroughly analyzed and found to be reproducible, reliable and generates consistent results. Now this method is starting to face stiff competition.
The discomfort and inconvenience of finger pricking is one reason people with diabetes do not check their blood sugar as often as they should. Finger pricking is uncomfortable and is painful. To counter the finger pricking, researchers have been trying to develop novel ways to measure blood glucose. The following are alternatives available today:
Blood can also be obtained from the upper arm, thigh or abdomen. These alternative sites of obtaining blood are much less painful than the finger prick. The only problem with getting blood from these alternative sites is that level of blood sugar obtained is not always accurate, especially in cases where the sugar levels may be quickly increasing or decreasing.
Infra red light monitors have been developed which use a beam of light to penetrate the skin and measure levels of sugar in the blood. However, these devices are not accurate and the levels of blood sugar can vary depending on the blood pressure, temperature of the skin or the presence of a skin ailment (lupus, ulcer, Reynaud’s, collagen vascular disease). When using the infrared devices, it is important to periodically compare the blood sugar with a finger prick to ensure that levels between the two methods are within a close range
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