title: Alternative site self blood glucose testing is preferred by women with gestational diabetes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Women with gestational diabetes (GDM) need to assimilate information and management skills rapidly for their diabetes to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes. Strict glycaemic control is necessary and is improved by regular self-monitoring of blood glucose. The Softsense meter (MediSense Products, Witney, UK) is used on less sensitive body sites and combines lancing with testing. The study aim was to compare alternative site testing with traditional blood glucose monitoring in pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  An open-label randomised crossover study using Softsense and Optium (MediSense Products) meters was performed in 33 women with GDM and 19 women with pre-existing diabetes. Each meter was used for 2 weeks. Ease of use and learning, pain, convenience, and effect on daily activities were assessed by a visual analogue questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women with GDM found the Softsense less painful (P = 0.0001) and easier to use (P = 0.03). At the end of the study, 25 chose the Softsense meter in preference to the Optium meter for further testing (P = 0.0001). In contrast, women with pre-existing diabetes found the Optium significantly less messy, less disruptive, and easier to use outside the home.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with GDM preferred the Softsense meter because of its ease of use and painlessness. Women with pre-existing diabetes found this meter less convenient, primarily because of its bulkiness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Fetal-Maternal Medicine, Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Penny
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Matthew A G
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: Richard I G
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Holt
mesh_terms: D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D010146:Pain; D011247:Pregnancy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results