Testing blood sugar levels is one of the most important things that people with diabetes can do to help manage their disease and live a healthy lifestyle. Diabetes is one of the few diseases where you can get instant feedback as to how well you are in control.

However, an Omnibus survey of 1,002 adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes indicates that almost 4 out of 10 do not test as often as their doctors recommend.

Respondents cited having to reprick (48%) and painful testing (43%) as the most commonly encountered problems while testing blood glucose levels.

According to the Omnibus survey, which was supported by Roche Diagnostics, respondents listed the top five barriers to testing:
1. Having to reprick
2. Painful testing
3. Wondering if the test result is really accurate
4. Difficulty drawing a large enough sample of blood
5. Having to retest due to an error message

Another finding from the Omnibus survey was that 95% of respondents indicated they would switch brands if they could find a meter system that would reduce the pain of testing (painful testing was listed as the second of the top five barriers to testing).

The Omnibus national survey also shows that patients have a desire to have integrated solutions that help them collect, analyze and act to help them manage their diabetes more easily, including:

* More than four in ten said they would be much more likely to buy a company's products if the company offered meters, pumps and other products that work together to help manage diabetes (46%) and if it provided tools that make it easier to share test results with their doctors (45%).

* More than half of insulin users (and 62% of those who test four or more times a day) said they would be much more likely to buy a company's products if the company offered products and services to help them collect relevant information, analyze and act on it all for better self-management of diabetes(1).

A total of 1,002 insulin users completed the Omnibus survey July 14-19, 2005. The sample, selected from Synovate's online Consumer Opinion Panel, was drawn from 3,400 households. Results for the total sample are accurate to within plus or minus 3%.