title: Frequency of self-adjustment of insulin dose and metabolic control in Type 2 diabetes -is there an association?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the supposition that self-adjustment of insulin dose will improve metabolic control in patients with Type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The number of self-adjustments of insulin dose was checked in a cross-sectional study involving 300 patients with Type 2 diabetes in a university outpatient department, who were insulin treated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and ninety-three patients (64%) performed insulin dose adjustments at least once in 14 days. The mean number of dose adjustments was 17.4 per 14 days. Patients with self-adjustments of insulin dose were younger (65.6 vs. 68.9 years), had a higher social status score (11.1 vs. 9.8) and a higher insulin dose (68.8 vs. 53.6 IU/day) than patients without dose adjustments. Each insulin dose adjustment was associated with an HbA(1c) decrease of 0.016% (P = 0.004). Any additional blood glucose self measurement was associated with an HbA(1c) increase of 0.019% (P = 0.038).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two-thirds of patients with Type 2 diabetes, who have undergone training in how to manage their condition, practise insulin dose self-adjustments. A weak association was observed between insulin dose adjustments and HbA(1c).
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine III, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beluchin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bäz
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kloos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: U A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D012646:Self Administration
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin