title: The relationship between self-monitoring of blood glucose and glycaemic control among patients attending an urban diabetes clinic in Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is a component of modern diabetes mellitus (DM) self-management. Its value is discussed controversially, and its impact in resource poor settings has been infrequently studied. The aim of this report is to determine the pattern of SMBG and its relationship with glycemic control amongst type 2 DM (T2DM) patients attending an urban DM clinic in Lagos, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from patients with T2DM in a cross-sectional study, using systematic random sampling, with an interviewer-administered questionnaire investigating demographic data, DM history and SMBG practice. Weight, height, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred patients were studied consisted of 62 (62%) females and 38 (38%) males. The mean age, body mass index and HbA1c of the study population were 59.9 (9.5) years, 26.2 (5.6) kg/m2 and 7.9 (2.2%). The median (interquartile range [IQR]) FPG and duration of DM were 107.0 (82.0-142.0) and 8.5 (5.0-15.0) years respectively. SMBG was practiced by 40 (40.0%) patients with a median (IQR) of 6 (4-15) times/month. SMBG was performed more frequently by persons with tertiary level of education (P = 0.04) and DM duration ≥ 8.5 years (P = 0.04). The mean HbA1c in the group who practiced SMBG was lower though not statistically significant compared to the group that did not (7.8% vs. 8.0%, P = 0.61) practiced. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient between the frequency of SMBG and HbA1c was -0.025, and P = 0.81 among the entire T2DM patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no statistically significant relationship between SMBG and glycemic control. There is a need for larger studies to be carried out in order to justify the value of SMBG in resource poor settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi Araba, Lagos State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Sandra Omozehio
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Iwuala
authors.forename: Michae Adeyemi
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Olamoyegun
authors.forename: Anas Ahmad
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Sabir
authors.forename: Olufemi Adetola
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Fasanmade
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; 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 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin