HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Benjamin, E. M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Benjamin, E. M. Social Bookmarking                What's this?

Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose: The Basics

	Introduction

 
Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is an important component of modern therapy for diabetes mellitus. SMBG has been recommended for people with diabetes and their health care professionals in order to achieve a specific level of glycemic control and to prevent hypoglycemia. The goal of SMBG is to collect detailed information about blood glucose levels at many time points to enable maintenance of a more constant glucose level by more precise regimens. It can be used to aid in the adjustment of a therapeutic regimen in response to blood glucose values and to help individuals adjust their dietary intake, physical activity, and insulin doses to improve glycemic control on a day-to-day basis.

SMBG can aid in diabetes control by:

• facilitating the development of an individualized blood glucose profile, which can then guide health care professionals in treatment planning for an individualized diabetic regimen;
  
• giving people with diabetes and their families the ability to make appropriate day-to-day treatment choices in diet and physical activity as well as in insulin or other agents;
  
• improving patients’ recognition of hypoglycemia or severe hyperglycemia; and
  
• enhancing patient education and patient empowerment regarding the effects of lifestyle and pharmaceutical intervention on glycemic control.
  

Numerous trials have been carried out to determine the true impact of SMBG on glycemic control. Some, including randomized, controlled trials, have demonstrated the efficacy of SMBG. Among patients with type 1 diabetes, SMBG has been associated with improved health outcomes.1 Specifically, increasing frequency of SMBG was linearly correlated with reductions in HbA_1c . . . [Full Text of this Article]

	SMBG Use and Frequency

 

	Recommending a Meter

 

	Summary

 

	Footnotes

 

	REFERENCES

 

CiteULike    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?