title: Perceptions of Caribbean type 2 diabetes patients on self-monitoring of blood glucose.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The views of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients have not been considered in the debate on the role of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in the management of T2DM.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the views of T2DM patients on SMBG.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two previously trained research assistants used a structured pre-tested questionnaire to interview 416 T2DM patients practising SMBG in out-patient clinics in the privacy of the patients after they have consented to be interviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  79% of patients were unemployed with mean duration of diabetes of 11.8 ± 0.5 year. 94% of patients did not have health insurance policies while 86% did not belong to any diabetes support group. Although 70% of the patients identified SMBG as expensive, 94% believed it assists glycaemic control, while 89% thought it was worth the expense.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caribbean T2DM patients believe SMBG was beneficial for the management of their diabetes and empowering them may reduce diabetes complications.
authors: The Diabetes & Metabolism Research Group, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus, Trinidad. chidum.ezenwaka@sta.uwi.edu
authors: C E
authors: CE
authors: Ezenwaka
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Olukoga
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Onuoha
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Worrell
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Skinner
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Mayers
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Martin
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Phillip
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose