title: Optimizing HgA1C and glucose monitoring frequency in patients with Type 2 diabetes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The primary objective of our study is to compare HgA1C to self monitoring frequency in diabetes subjects. A secondary objective is to evaluate the influence of family support and gender on glucose monitoring frequency and HgA1C.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied the glucose monitoring frequency and HgA1c outcome of 67 subjects treated with diet alone, 350 subjects treated with tablets, 155 subjects treated with insulin,  and 228 subjects treated with both tablets and insulin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven percent of the subjects monitoring 4-7 times per week produced a positive significant coefficient (p<.05). Self monitoring less than 4 times per week showed no statistical significance and self monitoring more than 8 times per week showed no statistical significance. Forty-eight percent of subjects treating with insulin alone and tablet plus insulin produced positive significant coefficients (p<.05). The percentage lowering of HgA1C of tablet plus insulin is 15.64% as the mean HgA1C at the first visit was 9.35 compared to 7.89. The percentage lowering of HgA1C for insulin alone was 12.24% as the mean HgA1C at the first visit was 9.37 compared to 8.23 at the later visit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that (1) frequency of self monitoring should be based on individualized goals and willingness to participate, (2) both insulin alone and tablet plus insulin levels of medication are effective at lowering HgA1C levels; however, using the tablet and insulin combined produced lower HgA1C levels than using insulin alone; (3) family support and gender have no effect on glucose monitoring frequency and lowering HgA1C levels.
authors.affiliation: Overton Brooks VA Medical Center, Primary Care, Nutrition, Shreveport, LA 71101-4295, USA. juanita.bridges@va.gov
authors.forename: Juanita F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bridges
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brignac
authors.forename: Sequria
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogbuli
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Draper
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rasumssen
authors.forename: Akane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.forename: Darlene
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chartier
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brewer
authors.forename: Hani
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mesak
mesh_terms: D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007328:Insulin