Home blood glucose monitoring: effectiveness in a general population of patients who have non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether home blood glucose monitoring as used by non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients followed in primary care nonresearch clinics improves glycemic control or reduces utilization of the outpatient laboratory.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review for 229 patients receiving outpatient supplies for home testing of either blood or urine.


METHODS
A variety of nonresearch clinics at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center, a teaching hospital affiliated with an academic university medical center.


METHODS
Outpatient veterans followed in diabetes, primary care, internal medicine, or endocrine clinics.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
The mean glycosylated hemoglobin for an unselected group monitoring glycemic control by urine testing only was 11.32% and for those using blood monitoring was 11.37%. Frequency and duration of monitoring had no apparent impact on glucose control. There was no decrease in the utilization of the laboratory among those patients practicing home blood glucose monitoring.


CONCLUSIONS
For non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients followed in a nonresearch clinic setting, the benefits of home blood glucose monitoring remain to be proven.
Klein
C E
CE
Ambulatory Care Service, Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Colorado.
Oboler
S K
SK
Prochazka
A
A
Oboler
S
S
Frank
M
M
Glugla
M
M
Winters
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin