Patterns of glucose self-monitoring among internal medicine outpatient patients with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Self-monitoring of blood glucose is vital for people with diabetes (PWD) to maintain acceptable glucose levels. The aim of this study is to demonstrate how effective home glucose monitoring was among PWD. Randomly selected 89 PWD who were admitted to internal medicine outpatient clinic of our teaching hospital in central Istanbul in a week and who had glucometers were included in the study. After informed consent was obtained, demographic features were recorded and a questionnaire was administered. The answers were categorized and the results were evaluated with SPSS statistical analysis method. Ethical committee approval was taken. The study was conducted according to Helsinki declaration. The patients were mostly female, income and education levels were generally low. Although the duration of diabetes of the patients was mostly more than 5 years, only half of them had a glucometer for more than 5 years. Most of them didn′t calibrate their devices. Most strikingly, only 25% of the patients in general were given a proper education for the usage of glucometers. Only 40% of the patients monitored their glucose levels regularly, rest of the patients used their glucometers rarely or none. Home monitoring of glucose levels for PWD would approve blood glucose levels by making necessary treatment adjustments available and help to prevent/delay diabetes related complications. Inclusion of the patients to the treatment and to monitoring of diabetes seems to be a reasonable starting point to achieve a better outcome of the disease