title: Impact of glucose self-monitoring on non-insulin-treated patients with type II diabetes mellitus. Randomized controlled trial comparing blood and urine testing.
abstract: The goal of this study was to compare the relative efficacy and cost of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) with routine urine testing in the management of patients with type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus not treated with insulin. Fifty-four patients with type II diabetes mellitus, not treated with insulin, who had inadequate glucose control on diet alone or diet and oral hypoglycemic agents were studied. Patients performed SMBG or urine glucose testing as part of a standardized treatment program that also included diet and exercise counseling. During the 6-mo study, both the urine-testing and SMBG groups showed similar improvement in glycemic control; within each group, there were significant improvements in fasting plasma glucose (reduction of 1.4 +/- 3.2 mM, P less than 0.03) and glycosylated hemoglobin (reduction of 2.0 +/- 3.4%, P less than 0.01) levels. Seventeen (31%) of 54 patients actually normalized their glycosylated hemoglobin values, 9 in the urine-testing group and 8 in the SMBG group. Comparisons between the urine-testing and SMBG groups showed no significant differences in mean fasting plasma glucose (P greater than 0.86), glycosylated hemoglobin (P greater than 0.95), or weight (P greater than 0.19). In patients with type II diabetes mellitus not treated with insulin, SMBG is no more effective, but is 8-12 times more expensive, than urine testing in facilitating improved glycemic control. Our results do not support widespread use of SMBG in diabetic patients not treated with insulin.
authors.affiliation: Health Services Research and Development Field Program, Durham Veterans Administration Medical Center, NC 27705.
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: DeLong
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Feussner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D001835:Body Weight; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy / Q000652:urine*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011934:Reagent Strips; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D011934:Reagent Strips