title: Self-monitoring of blood glucose in children and teens with diabetes.
abstract: Improved metabolic control has unequivocally been demonstrated to delay the onset and slow the progression of microvascular complications in adolescents and adults with diabetes mellitus. Growing evidence also supports the association of tighter glucose control and more frequent blood glucose monitoring. Therefore, self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) has become a fundamental part of diabetes care in children. Here, we review recent advances and ongoing trends in glucose monitoring in children with diabetes. Technologies have been developed to improve patient compliance with recommended monitoring, requiring less blood, involving less pain, and providing results more quickly. Alternate-site testing (AST) is also a potential means of improving patient compliance with SMBG by avoiding the sensitive fingertip area. The Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS) and the GlucoWatch Biographer are two recent tools that can track glucose levels continuously. However, inconsistency in their accuracy and precision remain challenges when using these technologies to guide management.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bui
authors.forename: Kusiel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Perlman
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Daneman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards; D002648:Child; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D004867:Equipment Design; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin