To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Many Patients With Diabetes Do Not Follow Advice To Monitor Blood Glucose URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/10FF1E.htm Doctor's Guide July 9, 1999
LONDON, ENGLAND -- July 9, 1999 -- People with diabetes do not self-monitor their glucose levels as often as they should, find researchers in this week's issue of the British Medical Journal. Based on their study of diabetes patients in Tayside, Scotland, the authors of the paper find that self-monitoring of blood glucose levels is associated with the ability to achieve better control of blood sugar levels, in patients with type I diabetes (when a patient has an absolute deficiency of insulin) at least. Dr. Josie Evans and colleagues from Ninewells Hospital and Medical School in Dundee found that in their study of over 800 diabetic patients in the Tayside area of Scotland, many patients did not conduct any blood sugar testing and that less than one fifth tested their glucose levels daily. They report that frequency of testing depended on characteristics such as age and level of social deprivation and that patient groups who do not test their blood regularly should be identified and targeted to encourage better self-monitoring. The researchers report that their study has shown that there is a direct association between frequency of testing and improved control of blood sugar levels, thus making the self-monitoring even more important. They conclude that the average cost of glucose management per patient (£409 per year for a patient who monitors their blood glucose four times a day) is still low when compared to the costs of treating patients with diabetic complications. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.