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Here we go again: Another study claiming that self-monitoring of blood glucose levels (SMBG) doesn’t help patients with type 2 diabetes. You can see the full text here.
Some previous studies have claimed the same thing, and some even claimed harm from SMBG, namely increased rates of depression or decreased “quality of life,” although others claimed benefit. Most informed patients agree that in order to be effective, patients must be trained in how to interpret the results and take action as a result. If you eat doughnuts and see a high number on your meter after a couple of hours, don’t eat doughnuts. Just measuring without using the results to take some kind of action is, most agree, pretty useless and a waste of money.
The authors of the recent study agree: “. . . for SMBG to be an effective self-management tool in non–insulin-treated T2DM, the patient and physician must actively engage in performing, interpreting, and acting on the SMBG values.”
More here: https://www.diabetesdaily.com/blog/is-blood-glucose-testing-worthwhile-434259/
Some previous studies have claimed the same thing, and some even claimed harm from SMBG, namely increased rates of depression or decreased “quality of life,” although others claimed benefit. Most informed patients agree that in order to be effective, patients must be trained in how to interpret the results and take action as a result. If you eat doughnuts and see a high number on your meter after a couple of hours, don’t eat doughnuts. Just measuring without using the results to take some kind of action is, most agree, pretty useless and a waste of money.
The authors of the recent study agree: “. . . for SMBG to be an effective self-management tool in non–insulin-treated T2DM, the patient and physician must actively engage in performing, interpreting, and acting on the SMBG values.”
More here: https://www.diabetesdaily.com/blog/is-blood-glucose-testing-worthwhile-434259/
