Abstract
Background
Keywords
Findings
Authors
What is already known on this subject?
What does this study add?
Background
For insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) may be vital in adjusting insulin dosages. For patients who do not use insulin, evidence supporting the use of SMBG is inconclusive.
Methods
The prevalence, frequency and correlates of SMBG are examined. Data pertain to 2,682 individuals aged 20 or older with T2DM who responded to the 2011 Survey on Living with Chronic Diseases in Canada. Multivariate prevalence rate ratios for associations between respondents’ characteristics and their use of SMBG were derived using binomial regression models.
Results
A large majority of the study population (87.8%) reported SMBG. No difference in the prevalence of SMBG was observed between oral medication users compared with insulin users; however, the frequency of SMBG was lower for those taking oral medication only. Significant determinants of SMBG were a health professional’s recommendation, having insurance coverage, and receiving an A1C test from a health professional.
Interpretation
The use of SMBG by adults with T2DM is common, and does not differ between those taking oral medication only and those treated with insulin.
Keywords
Clinical protocols, consensus, health care surveys, patient compliance, practice guidelines, self care
Findings
Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is a useful component of diabetes management. SMBG entails collecting information on blood glucose levels at different times of the day. SMBG is, therefore, important for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using insulin, because it enables them to detect hypoglycemia and self-administer doses of insulin for glycemic control. [Full Text]
Authors
Calypse B. Agborsangaya and Jeffrey A. Johnson are with the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E1. Cynthia Robitaille, Sulan Dai and Catherine Pelletier are with the Public Health Agency of Canada. Peggy Dunbar, is with the Diabetes Care Program of Nova Scotia. Marie-France Langlois is with the Université de Sherbrooke. Lawrence A. Leiter is with the University of Toronto.
What is already known on this subject?
- Information about the extent of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is largely based on claims data, or pertains to specific subgroups.
- No consensus exists on the optimal frequency of SMBG in T2DM patients.
What does this study add?
- This analysis presents an up-to-date assessment of the extent of SMBG for the management of T2DM and factors associated with SMBG among Canadian adults.
- Receipt of a health professional recommendation, receipt of an A1C test from a health professional, and having health insurance coverage for glucose monitoring were significantly associated with SMBG.
- The prevalence of SMBG did not differ for patients using insulin only, compared with those using insulin and oral medication or oral medication only.
- These findings may have implications for the development of clinical practice guidelines.
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