These results provide evidence across 8 lancing systems that challenge the current perceptions that patients with diabetes struggle to produce sufficient blood samples to fill most test strips, including those with 1-µL fill requirements, and that obtaining larger volumes of blood is more painful. These results are consistent with the previous literature suggesting that patients derive no real benefits from very low strip volumes and generally prefer a blood drop size that enables them to confidently fill their test strip.

The pain associated with lancing can be a significant barrier to self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). The OneTouch® Delica™ lancing device contains features to reduce lancing pain, including improved lancet control and stability, reduced vibration, and a thinner, 33-gauge lancet. This 2-visit, randomized controlled trial assessed perceived pain of lancing with the OneTouch® Delica™ compared with 4 other common lancing devices: OneTouch® Comfort™, ACCU-CHEK® Softclix, ACCU-CHEK® Multiclix, and Ascensia® Microlet™2. Two hundred patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus were assigned to the OneTouch® Delica™ and also randomized to 1 of the 4 comparator devices (n=50 per device pair). At visit 1, we determined the minimum depth settings required to produce≥1 μL of fingertip blood for each patient with each device. At visit 2, patients lanced their fingertips with the devices at the predetermined depths and used a 150-mm visual analog scale (VAS) to rate lancing pain relative to their "usual pain" associated with SMBG. The VAS ranged from "much less painful" (0 mm) to "much more painful" (150 mm), with the midpoint (75 mm) labeled as "usual pain." Fingertip pain scores from patients using OneTouch® Delica™ were significantly lower than those obtained using OneTouch® Comfort™, ACCU-CHEK® Multiclix, and Ascensia® Microlet™2. Pain scores for OneTouch® Delica™ and ACCU-CHEK® Softclix were not significantly different. In conclusion, OneTouch® Delica™ was either less painful or no different than the comparator devices when used for fingertip lancing. Innovative lancing devices that cause less pain may improve compliance and persistence with prescribed SMBG.