Testing versus guessing blood glucose values: impact on self-care behaviors in type 2 diabetes. (September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pettus, Jeremy; Stenger, Patricia; Schachner, Holly C.; Dunne, Nancy; Parkes, Joan Lee; Pardo, Scott; Edelman, Steven V.
• Is Part Of: Current medical research and opinion. Volume 30:Number 9(2014:Sep.)
• Page Start: 1795
• Page End: 1802
• Publication Date: 2014-09
• Subjects: Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; Therapeutics -- Periodicals; 615.5
• DOI: 10.1185/03007995.2014.929097
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-7995

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="ss1"> <title>Objective:</title> <p>To assess differences between estimated blood glucose values and those measured on a blood glucose meter and the impact on self-care behavior in type 2 diabetes.</p> </sec> <sec id="ss2"> <title>Research design and methods:</title> <p>Subjects ≥18 years with type 2 diabetes (<italic>N</italic> = 297) attending a Taking Control of Your Diabetes conference were asked questions about diabetes management and to estimate their current blood glucose. Study staff tested subjects' blood glucose on a meter. After seeing the result, subjects were again asked questions on diabetes management.</p> </sec> <sec id="ss3"> <title>Clinical trial registration:</title> <p>NCT01453413.</p> </sec> <sec id="ss4"> <title>Main outcome measure:</title> <p>The percentage of subject blood glucose estimations that were outside ISO 15197:2003 accuracy criteria (>±15 mg/dL or >±20% of meter glucose values).</p> </sec> <sec id="ss5"> <title>Results:</title> <p>Nearly half (46%) of subjects estimated blood glucose values outside ISO 15197:2003 accuracy criteria. Time since last blood glucose test, time since last meal, testing frequency, and A1C did not have an effect on differences between estimated blood glucose values and meter results. In the questionnaire <italic>before</italic> blood glucose testing, most subjects strongly agreed, agreed, or neither agreed nor disagreed that 'I make decisions about my diabetes, such as my food intake or my insulin dose even when I do not test my blood sugar' (71%) and 'My body tells me without testing if my blood sugar is low or high' (77%). <italic>After</italic> blood glucose testing, 99% of subjects strongly agreed, agreed, or neither agreed nor disagreed that 'Knowing my blood sugar by checking could help me make different diabetes decisions'.</p> </sec> <sec id="ss6"> <title>Conclusions:</title> <p>Self-monitoring of blood glucose is an important component of diabetes self-management. Testing rather than guessing blood glucose values is important to obtain accurate results and inform people with type 2 diabetes to make effective, appropriate diabetes management decisions. A potential limitation of this study is that the subject population may not be representative of the general population of people with diabetes; however, the conference setting may attract a more motivated population, which could underestimate the magnitude of the results.</p> </sec> </abstract>