Evaluation of Clinical Effectiveness of Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose Level in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Treated with Non-Insulin Regimens in Düzce: Primary Care-Based Study

Objective: Self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) is frequently recommended, beside its controversial efficacy. Herein, it was aimed to evaluate frequency of SMBG and its efficacy among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in primary care settings in Duzce Province of Turkey. Methods: The cross-sectional and primary care-based study enrolled a total of 680 patients with T2DM treated with oral anti-diabetic agents. Status of SMBG was recorded as non-use, daily, weekly and monthly. Metabolic and glycemic indexes were compared according to statuses of SMBG use. Results: Over the two-third of the patients were user of SMBG. The frequency of daily, weekly and monthly use of SMBG was 13.2%, 32.1% and 24.5%, respectively. Of them, the majority have irregularly used SMBG (59.4%). However, the ratio of patients who have regularly used SMBG was just 24.3%. No significant difference was observed between statuses of SMBG in glycemic indexes of HbA1c, Fasting blood glucose and post-prandial blood glucose (p=0.655, p=0.721 and p=0.389). Conclusions: Although the high and irregular use of SMBG, there was no difference between status of SMBG. Therefore, the family physicians should consciously advice self-monitoring blood glucose. It should be recommended after the patients are competent and empowered with education for its use. Further investigations should be carried out to general idea on clinical effectiveness SMBG in Turkey.