Knee skin pricking to monitor capillary blood glucose is less painful than finger pricking in children with type 1 diabetes

To identify whether capillary blood glucose measurement at an alternate site (knee) is equivalent to and less painful than capillary blood glucose measured by finger pricking. A randomized crossover trial was performed to compare capillary blood glucose measurements, pain, and preference between puncture sites (finger vs. skin fold of the knee) among 45 children with type 1 diabetes. A standard glucometer was used, and measurements were performed in both a fasting and postprandial state. In the comparison of capillary blood glucose measurements of the knee vs. the finger, we observed a non-significant difference of 5.95 ± 8.19 % and 1.32 ± 26.45 % in the fasting and postprandial states, respectively. Knee puncture was significantly less painful than finger pricking (P < 0.001). Capillary blood glucose levels measured by knee skin pricking are non-significantly lower than those measured by traditional finger pricking. Knee skin pricking is significantly less painful than finger pricking.