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Self Monitoring of Blood Glucose With Finger Tip vs. Alternate Site Sampling: Effect on Long Term Glycemic Control

Randomized Trial to Assess the Effect of Using Alternate Site Blood Glucose Testing Versus Finger-Tip Testing on Long-Term Glycemic Control.

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00207207
Enrollment
174
Registered
2005-09-21
Start date
2003-07-31
Completion date
2005-10-31
Last updated
2009-02-11

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Diabetes Mellitus

Keywords

Alternate Site, Blood Glucose Testing, Blood Sugar Testing, Hemoglobin A1C

Brief summary

The objective is to assess the effect of using ASBG (alternate site blood glucose) versus FTBG (finger tip blood glucose) testing on long-term glycemic control in diabetics. Since ASBG measurements appear to lag behind FSBG measurements at times of changing glucose concentration, it is possible that ASBG measurements will yield lower postprandial readings than FTBG, potentially causing a negative impact on long-term control. It is also possible that since ASBG is reportedly more comfortable than FTBG testing, it's use might improve adherence to testing and improve long term control.

Detailed description

Patients undergo an initial screening visit. Inclusion criteria include adults 18 -70 years of age with type II diabetes currently using insulin and recording SMBG measurements. Exclusion criteria include history of severe hypoglycemic episodes, current use of ASBG measurements, serious co-morbid illness or pregnancy. For eligible subjects baseline data including HbA1C is obtained. The goal for enrollment is 176 subjects. Subjects are randomized into either a fingertip or an arm-testing group within strata of baseline HbA1C. Each subject who does not already have one receives a One Touch Ultra® SMBG device. All subjects receive training in the use of this device, but for those in the arm-testing group this includes training on obtaining samples from the forearm. Arm- testing subjects are encouraged to use arm testing as much as possible but to use finger testing if they are not able to obtain a sample from the arm. All subjects are asked to perform SMBG testing before breakfast, before dinner and 2 hours after dinner and to complete diaries of all SMBG readings. At 1, 3 and 5 months after the training visit subjects see a diabetes provider who makes adjustments in the therapeutic regimen based on the SMBG measurements, as they would during routine diabetes management. Diary sheets are then collected and the data they contain is entered into a database. At months 2, 4 and 7 subjects present for a visit to drop off their diary sheets. At months 4 and 7 they have blood drawn for HbA1C measurement. The principal outcome variable is level of diabetic control as measured by 7-month HbA1c. The means for each group will be compared, and we will test the hypothesis that glycemic control as represented by 7-month HbA1C is not worse for the ASBG group than the FTBG group. Secondary outcome variables are compliance with testing and number of hypoglycemic episodes.

Interventions

PROCEDUREAlternate site blood glucose testing

Sponsors

Department of Health and Human Services
CollaboratorFED
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
CollaboratorFED
Boston Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria will include adults 18 -70 years of age with type II diabetes currently using insulin and recording SMBG measurements.

Exclusion criteria

Patients will be excluded who have a history of hypoglycemic episodes, within the last two years, requiring urgent medical attention, hypoglycemia resulting in cognitive impairment, a lack of symptoms during hypoglycemic episodes. Subjects will also be excluded who have type I DM as determined by the investigators on a case-by-case basis, subjects who already utilize ASBG measurements or who have serious co-morbid illness (unstable cardiovascular disease, metastatic CA). Pregnant patients will also be excluded because of the more intense diabetic control they require.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Level of diabetic control as measured by 7-month HbA1c.

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
Compliance with testing.
Number of hypoglycemic episodes.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026