Frequency of Blood Glucose Monitoring in Relation to Glycemic Control...
Frequency of Blood Glucose Monitoring in Relation to Glycemic Control...
Objective. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between blood glucose level, measured as HbA1c, and frequency of self-monitoring in patients with type 2 diabetes. Daily self-monitoring is believed to be important for patients treated with insulin or oral agents to detect asymptomatic hypoglycemia and to guide patient and provider behavior toward reaching blood glucose goals.
Research Design and Methods. A national sample of patients with type 2 diabetes was studied in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Data on therapy for diabetes, frequency of self-monitoring of blood glucose, and HbA1c values were obtained by structured questionnaires and by clinical and laboratory assessments.
Results. According to the data, 29% of patients treated with insulin, 65% treated with oral agents, and 80% treated with diet alone had never monitored their blood glucose or monitored it less than once per month. Self-monitoring at least once per day was practiced by 39% of those taking insulin and 5–6% of those treated with oral agents or diet alone. For all patients combined, the proportion of patients who tested their blood glucose increased with an increasing HbA1c value. However, when examined by diabetes therapy category, there was little relationship between HbA1c value and the proportion testing at least once per day or the proportion testing at least once per week.
Conclusions. In this cross-sectional study of patients with type 2 diabetes, the increase in frequency of self-monitoring of blood glucose with increasing HbA1c value was associated with the higher proportion of insulin-treated patients in higher HbA1c categories. Within diabetes therapy categories, the frequency of self-monitoring was not related to glycemic control, as measured by HbA1c level.
Self-monitoring of blood glucose is believed to be a useful component of patient self-care practices. For patients with type 2 diabetes, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) position is that daily self-monitoring is especially important for those treated with insulin or oral agents to monitor for and prevent asymptomatic hypoglycemia. Self-monitoring is also suggested for these patients to facilitate reaching blood glucose goals, although the role of self-monitoring in diet-treated patients with type 2 diabetes is not specified by the ADA. Given the two-fold objective of monitoring glucose levels at both the low and high ends of the spectrum, it might be expected that monitoring might be more frequent for those with lower and those with higher blood glucose values compared with patients in the intermediate range. We investigated the relationship between blood glucose level, measured as HbA1c, and the frequency of self-monitoring in a nationwide sample of patients with type 2 diabetes.
Abstract & Introduction
Abstract
Objective. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between blood glucose level, measured as HbA1c, and frequency of self-monitoring in patients with type 2 diabetes. Daily self-monitoring is believed to be important for patients treated with insulin or oral agents to detect asymptomatic hypoglycemia and to guide patient and provider behavior toward reaching blood glucose goals.
Research Design and Methods. A national sample of patients with type 2 diabetes was studied in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Data on therapy for diabetes, frequency of self-monitoring of blood glucose, and HbA1c values were obtained by structured questionnaires and by clinical and laboratory assessments.
Results. According to the data, 29% of patients treated with insulin, 65% treated with oral agents, and 80% treated with diet alone had never monitored their blood glucose or monitored it less than once per month. Self-monitoring at least once per day was practiced by 39% of those taking insulin and 5–6% of those treated with oral agents or diet alone. For all patients combined, the proportion of patients who tested their blood glucose increased with an increasing HbA1c value. However, when examined by diabetes therapy category, there was little relationship between HbA1c value and the proportion testing at least once per day or the proportion testing at least once per week.
Conclusions. In this cross-sectional study of patients with type 2 diabetes, the increase in frequency of self-monitoring of blood glucose with increasing HbA1c value was associated with the higher proportion of insulin-treated patients in higher HbA1c categories. Within diabetes therapy categories, the frequency of self-monitoring was not related to glycemic control, as measured by HbA1c level.
Introduction
Self-monitoring of blood glucose is believed to be a useful component of patient self-care practices. For patients with type 2 diabetes, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) position is that daily self-monitoring is especially important for those treated with insulin or oral agents to monitor for and prevent asymptomatic hypoglycemia. Self-monitoring is also suggested for these patients to facilitate reaching blood glucose goals, although the role of self-monitoring in diet-treated patients with type 2 diabetes is not specified by the ADA. Given the two-fold objective of monitoring glucose levels at both the low and high ends of the spectrum, it might be expected that monitoring might be more frequent for those with lower and those with higher blood glucose values compared with patients in the intermediate range. We investigated the relationship between blood glucose level, measured as HbA1c, and the frequency of self-monitoring in a nationwide sample of patients with type 2 diabetes.
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