title: Frequency of self-monitoring blood glucose and attainment of HbA1c target values.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Test strips for self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) represent in Argentina, around 50 % of diabetes treatment cost; the frequency of their use is closely associated with hyperglycemia treatment. However, the favorable impact of SMBG on attainment of HbA1c goal in different treatment conditions remains controversial. We therefore attempted to estimate the relationship between use of SMBG test strips and degree of attainment of metabolic control in an institution of our social security subsector (SSS) in which provision is fully covered and submitted to a regular audit system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational retrospective study using information of 657 patients with T2DM (period 2009-2010) from the database of the Diabetes and Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors Program (DICARO) of one institution of our SSS. DICARO provides-with an audit system-100 % coverage for all drugs and keeps records of clinical, metabolic and treatment data from every patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average monthly test strips/patient used for SMBG increased as a function of treatment intensification: Monotherapy with oral antidiabetic drugs (OAD) < combined OAD therapy < insulin treatment. In every condition, the number was larger in people with target HbA1c levels. Test strips represented the larger percentage of total prescription cost.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our population, the type of hyperglycemia treatment was the main driver of test strip use for SMBG; in every condition tested, targeted HbA1c values were associated with greater strip use. Patient education and prescription audit may optimize its use and treatment outcomes.
authors.affiliation: CENEXA. Centro de Endocrinología Experimental y Aplicada (UNLP-CONICET LA PLATA, Centro Colaborador de la OPS/OMS en Diabetes), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas UNLP, 60 y 120, 1900, La Plata, Argentina. jelgart@cenexa.org.
authors.forename: Jorge F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Elgart
authors.affiliation: CENEXA. Centro de Endocrinología Experimental y Aplicada (UNLP-CONICET LA PLATA, Centro Colaborador de la OPS/OMS en Diabetes), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas UNLP, 60 y 120, 1900, La Plata, Argentina. lgonzalez@cenexa.org.|Escuela de Economía de la Salud y Administración de Organizaciones de Salud, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina. lgonzalez@cenexa.org.
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: CENEXA. Centro de Endocrinología Experimental y Aplicada (UNLP-CONICET LA PLATA, Centro Colaborador de la OPS/OMS en Diabetes), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas UNLP, 60 y 120, 1900, La Plata, Argentina. mariianaprestes@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prestes
authors.affiliation: CENEXA. Centro de Endocrinología Experimental y Aplicada (UNLP-CONICET LA PLATA, Centro Colaborador de la OPS/OMS en Diabetes), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas UNLP, 60 y 120, 1900, La Plata, Argentina. enzo@cenexa.org.|III-LIDI, Facultad de Informática, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina. enzo@cenexa.org.
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rucci
authors.affiliation: CENEXA. Centro de Endocrinología Experimental y Aplicada (UNLP-CONICET LA PLATA, Centro Colaborador de la OPS/OMS en Diabetes), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas UNLP, 60 y 120, 1900, La Plata, Argentina. direccion@cenexa.org.
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gagliardino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human
keywords: Diabetes education; Metabolic control; Prescription audit; SMBG; Treatment costs; Treatment targets