Impact of cooling diabetic patients’ fingertips compared to vibrating stimulation on pain from the glucometer needle: A cross-over trial study
Introduction: Blood glucose measurements using glucometers can cause discomfort due to needle insertion. Implementing effective pain management strategies is essential to alleviate this discomfort. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of cold and vibration stimulation on pain perception during g...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Complementary Therapies in Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229924001043 |
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| Summary: | Introduction: Blood glucose measurements using glucometers can cause discomfort due to needle insertion. Implementing effective pain management strategies is essential to alleviate this discomfort. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of cold and vibration stimulation on pain perception during glucometer needle insertion in diabetic patients. Methods: Sixty diabetic inpatients from Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Hamadan, Iran, participated in a crossover study, comprising 3 individuals with type 1 diabetes and 57 with type 2 diabetes. The cohort included 40 males and 20 females, with ages ranging from 18 to 70 years and a mean age of 55.7 years. The average duration of diabetes was 10 years. The study design consisted of six blocks, each containing three interventions: vibration stimulation (A), cold therapy (B), and a combination of both C. The sequences of interventions (ABC, ACB, BCA, BAC, CBA, and CAB) were randomly assigned. Each participant received the interventions at three different times: before breakfast, one to two hours after lunch, and at dinner. One hand was randomly selected for the intervention, while the other served as a control, with only the needle inserted. Pain levels were assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for both hands. Results: Participants receiving vibration stimulation in one hand reported a significant reduction in pain intensity, with a mean difference of 1.21 (p < 0.001) compared to the control hand. In contrast, cold therapy did not significantly affect pain intensity, showing a mean difference of only 0.06 (p > 0.05). The combination of vibration and cold therapy also did not significantly alter pain intensity, yielding a mean difference of 0.33 (p > 0.05). A significant difference (p = 0.002) was noted among the interventions, indicating varying effects on pain intensity. Conclusion: Vibration stimulation effectively reduces pain associated with glucometer needle insertions. Among the methods examined, vibration stimulation proved to be the most effective for minimizing needle pain. Clinicians are encouraged to incorporate this technique into the care of diabetic patients to enhance their comfort during glucose monitoring. |
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| ISSN: | 0965-2299 |