Abnormal color vision and reliable self-monitoring of blood glucose.
Color vision was assessed in 103 insulin-dependent diabetic patients using the Farnsworth-Münsell 100-Hue Test. All showed color vision impairment. Thirty-four had true dyschromatopsia while 22 suffered from tritanopia or other axial defects. We evaluated how accurately diabetic patients could monitor their own blood glucose by asking them to read a series of 30 precalibrated BM Test Glycemic Strips (Chemstrip, Boehringer, Mannheim, West Germany) without a meter. Patients with axial defects performed least well regardless of 100-Hue scores. Reading accuracy of patients with no axial defects was strongly correlated to 100-Hue scores, although patients having dyschromatopsia were consistently hesitant about their readings. Our results suggest that self-monitoring of blood glucose without a meter is indicated only after color vision has been examined by the 100-Hue Test. Self-monitoring should be voided with patients suffering from axial defects or having unsatisfactory 100-Hue scores.
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology; D003119:Color Perception Tests; D003117:Color Vision Defects / Q000097:blood*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D011934:Reagent Strips
D001786:Blood Glucose; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D011934:Reagent Strips