Your Health

Dealing With Diabetes May No Longer Be As Painful

Posted 8/5/2010

Diabetes can be managed more comfortably for many.

(NAPSI) - There is comforting news for the approximately 18 million Americans diagnosed with diabetes.

The Situation

Although diabetes is a serious disease, its complications--including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, and amputation--can be delayed or even prevented with proper diabetes management, which includes regular blood glucose testing.

Unfortunately, though, for many people, the pain of lancing, which involves piercing the skin to draw a small blood sample for testing, can be a deterrent. In fact, of those people who quit testing their blood glucose each year, nearly one in six cite the pain of lancing as the reason for doing so.¹

A Solution

New tools, such as the OneTouch Delica Lancing System from LifeScan, may help patients lessen the pain of testing.

The device features a new, proprietary 33 gauge lancet that is 40 percent thinner than current industry standard 28 gauge lancets. In addition, the system's Advanced Glide Control System precisely guides the lancet in a swift, straight motion that reduces vibration for a smoother lancing experience. It also features seven adjustable depth settings to allow for shallower punctures that may be less painful.

In a clinical study of nearly 200 people with diabetes, four out of five reported the new system was virtually painless and the most comfortable lancing device they had ever used.

"It's important for people with diabetes to regularly test their blood glucose, particularly those using insulin, who typically need to test several times a day," said Dr. Marc Steinberg, a diabetes specialist who himself has type 1 diabetes.

"A device like the OneTouch Delica System can significantly reduce the pain of lancing for many people. This can help them feel more comfortable about testing and can make it easier to get valuable information that can improve their day-to-day diabetes self-management."

General Diabetes Management Tips

Changing lifestyle choices and habits to live with diabetes can be a real challenge. But taking care of yourself and your disease can pay off in the long run. According to the International Diabetes Federation, it's important to:

• Eat a balanced diet: Healthy eating is important to help control blood glucose and cholesterol levels, maintain body weight, and reduce high blood pressure.

• Get regular physical exercise: Exercise helps to lower blood glucose levels in people with diabetes and control weight. And, it's not just about going to the gym. Activities like gardening, vacuuming and walking can all count.

• Reduce stress: Although the exact relationship between stress and diabetes is unclear, it seems that stress has a negative impact on blood glucose levels. Relaxing with family and friends helps people with diabetes manage their glucose.

• Stop smoking: By stopping smoking, you can improve your chances of preventing major complications associated with diabetes.

It's important to talk to your healthcare professional to develop a diabetes management regimen that works for you.

Learn More

For more information on diabetes care, products and services, visit www.OneTouchDiabetes.com or call (800) 227-8862.

¹LifeScan Lost Customer Study, March 2008.

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