title: "Symptom-based insulin adjustment for glucose normalization" (SIGN) algorithm: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lack of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) records in actual practice settings continues to create therapeutic challenges for clinicians, especially in adjusting insulin therapy. In order to overcome this clinical obstacle, a "Symptom-based Insulin adjustment for Glucose Normalization" (SIGN) algorithm was developed to guide clinicians in caring for patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes who have few to no SMBG records. This study examined the clinical outcome and safety of the SIGN algorithm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin usage, and insulin-related adverse effects of a total of 114 patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes who refused to use SMBG or performed SMBG once a day for less than three times per week were studied 3 months prior to the implementation of the algorithm and prospectively at every 3-month interval for a total of 6 months after the algorithm implementation. Patients with type 1 diabetes, nonadherence to diabetes medications, or who were not on insulin therapy at any time during the study period were excluded from this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean HbA1c improved by 0.29% at 3 months (P = 0.015) and 0.41% at 6 months (P = 0.006) after algorithm implementation. A slight increase in HbA1c was observed when the algorithm was not implemented. There were no major hypoglycemic episodes. The number of minor hypoglycemic episodes was minimal with the majority of the cases due to irregular meal habits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SIGN algorithm appeared to offer a viable and safe approach when managing uncontrolled patients with type 2 diabetes who have few to no SMBG records.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Joyce Yu-Chia
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsou
authors.forename: Jiahui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Feaizen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Sooim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human