Surprisingly, most of the participants stated that fingerstick discomfort was not a big concern - even with children: “At first, fingersticks were a real problem, but now it doesn’t bother her.”

Most participants stated that discomfort was an issue when they first started to use the meter; this was especially true for children, but that the discomfort grew less important after a few weeks or months of use.

However, one participant of a “fragile” child with diabetes stated: “We test 8 to 10 times a day. He was losing sensitivity in his fingertips [from the frequent fingersticks]. We prefer the meter that allows testing in alternative sites.”