Self-monitoring among non-insulin treated patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Patients' behavioural responses to readings and associations with glycaemic control

TY - JOUR

T1 - Self-monitoring among non-insulin treated patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

T2 - Patients' behavioural responses to readings and associations with glycaemic control

AU - Evans, Josie M M

AU - Mackison, Dionne

AU - Swanson, Vivien

AU - Donnan, Peter T

AU - Emslie-Smith, Alistair

AU - Lawton, Julia

N1 - Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

PY - 2013/5

Y1 - 2013/5

N2 - AIM: To investigate self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) behaviour among non-insulin treated patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and to evaluate associations with glycaemic control. METHODS: Eligible patients in 23 GP practices in Tayside, Scotland, were identified (18-75 years, no insulin treatment, SMBG reagent strips dispensed in 2009). Consenting patients were administered questionnaires addressing SMBG behaviour: these primary data were record-linked to clinical data (including HbA1c) from a validated population-based diabetes clinical information system, then anonymised. RESULTS: Among 629 eligible patients, 207 were interviewed and analysed. Mean SMBG reagent strips dispensed in 12 months was 268. In response to a perceived high test result, 80 (38.8%) patients took no action or simply checked later with most of them (61.3%) indicating they did not know what action to take. Of the 126 (61.2%) patients who took some action, 101 made changes to diet, 12 increased physical activity, 10 made changes to medication and 12 mad a HCP appointment. A high score on a Diabetes Knowledge Test was a statistically significant predictor of taking action (odds ratio: 2.07). However, neither taking action nor increased SMBG frequency was associated with improved glycaemic control. CONCLUSIONS: Responding to SMBG test results and increased testing frequency were not associated with improved glycaemic control in the short-term. There is a lack of knowledge surrounding SMBG in non-insulin treated patients.

AB - AIM: To investigate self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) behaviour among non-insulin treated patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and to evaluate associations with glycaemic control. METHODS: Eligible patients in 23 GP practices in Tayside, Scotland, were identified (18-75 years, no insulin treatment, SMBG reagent strips dispensed in 2009). Consenting patients were administered questionnaires addressing SMBG behaviour: these primary data were record-linked to clinical data (including HbA1c) from a validated population-based diabetes clinical information system, then anonymised. RESULTS: Among 629 eligible patients, 207 were interviewed and analysed. Mean SMBG reagent strips dispensed in 12 months was 268. In response to a perceived high test result, 80 (38.8%) patients took no action or simply checked later with most of them (61.3%) indicating they did not know what action to take. Of the 126 (61.2%) patients who took some action, 101 made changes to diet, 12 increased physical activity, 10 made changes to medication and 12 mad a HCP appointment. A high score on a Diabetes Knowledge Test was a statistically significant predictor of taking action (odds ratio: 2.07). However, neither taking action nor increased SMBG frequency was associated with improved glycaemic control. CONCLUSIONS: Responding to SMBG test results and increased testing frequency were not associated with improved glycaemic control in the short-term. There is a lack of knowledge surrounding SMBG in non-insulin treated patients.

U2 - 10.1016/j.diabres.2013.03.005

DO - 10.1016/j.diabres.2013.03.005

M3 - Article

C2 - 23523283

SN - 0168-8227

VL - 100

SP - 235

EP - 242

JO - Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice

JF - Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice

IS - 2

ER -