Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose in Type 2 Diabetes.

Abstract

The effectiveness of self blood glucose monitoring (SBGM) in Type 2 diabetes patients is debated. Self monitoring is costly, approximately 6 million dollars each year is spent by the Nova Scotia Pharmacare Program alone. At the Capital District Health Authority in Halifax, Nova Scotia, a study was developed to measure patient self monitoring knowledge and actions. A 42 item pilot survey was developed by a multidisciplinary team and sent to 400 patients with Type 2 diabetes who were followed by a Primary Care Diabetes Case Management team. Initial survey results (N = 116) revealed that 49% of participants test their blood glucose (BG) levels 7 days a week and 37 % of participants test 2 times per day. When asked why they test, 94% indicated that they test to know if their diabetes is under control. 69% indicated they test because their care provider requested them to. When asked about the number of times they were told to test BG 21% stated 4 times every day and 28% stated 2 times every day. Other frequencies were less common. Of those surveyed, 59.9% identified were aware of their last A1c result while 36% were not Sixty-nine percent knew the appropriate postprandial glycaemic targets. However, 36% did not know their postprandial BG target. Forty percent had high BG readings 3-4 times weekly and 23% had high readings every day. Results from our patients followed by diabetes case managers will be compared to those in other jurisdictions and using other models of care. ABSTRACT #161