title: Reduction in self-monitoring of blood glucose in type 2 diabetes: an observational controlled study in east London.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) confers no benefit for many people with type 2 diabetes not being treated with insulin. It accounts for 21% of diabetes prescribing costs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To improve care quality at reduced cost for type 2 diabetes by reducing unnecessary SMBG.
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-randomised, observational controlled study in two intervention clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and one control CCG in east London.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 19,602 people with type 2 diabetes not being treated with insulin were recruited from two intervention CCGs; 16,033 were recruited from a control CCG. The intervention (from 2010 to 2013) comprised implementation of a locally developed guideline, including IT support and peer feedback of performance. Data on practice prescribing SMBG testing strips were gathered using GP electronic health records. Information on costs were obtained via the ePACT electronic database.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 4 years, in all non-insulin type 2 diabetes treatment groups, use of SMBG was reduced in the two intervention CCGs from 42.8% to 16.5%, and in the control CCG from 56.4% to 47.2%. In people on metformin alone or no treatment, intervention CCGs reduced SMBG use from 29.6% to 6.0%, and in the control CCG use dropped from 47.1% to 38.7% (P<0.001). From 2009 to 2012 the total cost of all SMBG prescribing (type 1 and type 2 diabetes, including users of insulin) was reduced by 4.9% (£62,476) in the two intervention CCGs and increased in the control CCG by 5.0% (£42,607); in England, the total cost increased by 13.5% (£19.4 million). In total, 20% (3865 of 19 602) fewer patients used SMBG in the intervention CCGs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This low-cost programme demonstrated a major reduction in unnecessary prescribing of SMBG, along with cost savings. If replicated nationally, this would avoid unnecessary testing in 340 000 people and prescribing costs that total £21.8 million.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Queen Mary University of London, London.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Queen Mary University of London, London.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Smithers
authors.affiliation: The Royal London Hospital, London.
authors.forename: Tahseen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.affiliation: Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning Group, London.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bennett-Richards
authors.affiliation: City and Hackney CCG, London.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Keene
authors.affiliation: Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Queen Mary University of London, London.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dostal
authors.affiliation: Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Queen Mary University of London, London.
authors.forename: Rohini
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mathur
authors.affiliation: Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Queen Mary University of London, London.
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dunne
authors.affiliation: Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Queen Mary University of London, London.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hull
authors.affiliation: Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Queen Mary University of London, London.
authors.forename: Kambiz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boomla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D017046:Cost Savings; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents
keywords: HbA1c; primary care; quality improvement; self-monitoring of blood glucose; type 2 diabetes
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