Is diabetes patients' knowledge of laboratory tests for monitoring blood glucose levels associated with better glycaemic control?
OBJECTIVE
To determine if there is any difference in indices of glycaemic control between type-2 diabetes patients who knew the laboratory tests for monitoring blood glucose and their peers who did not know.


METHODS
Eighty-nine type-2 diabetes patients were studied after an overnight fast. The patients' bio-data, blood pressure, anthropometric indices and baseline biochemical parameters and glycated haemoglobin A₁c (HbA₁c) were measured. After a breakfast of stewed boiled rice, a 2-hour postprandial blood glucose was measured and a questionnaire administered.


RESULTS
The patients' mean ± SD HbA1c level was 8.6 ± 2.4% and none of the patients knew about HbA1c test for monitoring glycaemic control. Interestingly, patients who knew about fasting blood glucose test had significantly lower HbA₁c values than their counterparts who did not know (8.1 ± 2.2 vs. 9.1 ± 2.5%, p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Diabetes self-management education incorporating laboratory-based information may assist to prevent poor glycaemic control in developing countries with increasing reports of hyperglycaemic emergencies.
Department of Para-Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies , St Augustine , Trinidad & Tobago and.
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Ezenwaka
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Okoye
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Esonwune
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Dioka
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Onuoha
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Osuji
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Oguejiofor
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Meludu
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human