Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate an association between the frequency of blood glucose self-monitoring (SMBG) and glycemic control assessed by glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels.
Patients and methods: A group of 600 type 2 diabetic patients aged 63.4 +/- 9 years (32 to 85 years) and with a mean diabetes duration of 11.4 +/- 7.7 years (min. 1 year, max. 38 years) were asked to perform weekly blood glucose self-monitoring with an 8-point glucose profile on a chosen day. They were also asked to declare their self-monitoring frequency. HbA1C levels were measured in all the patients.
Results: Most of the patients reported that they performed their SMBG 1-2 times a day (44.3%) or 1-2 times a week (31.8%). All of them measured their blood glucose after an overnight fast and after breakfast. Most patients performed their measurements also after lunch and dinner. Less than 50% of patients did their measurements at night-time. The mean HbA1C level was 7.45 +/- 1.08%. Only 20% of patients achieved metabolic control of diabetes recommended by the Polish Diabetic Society (HbA1C < 6.5%). No severe hypoglycemia episodes were obsered. Glycated hemoglobin levels did not differ between the SMBG frequency groups. There was no correlation between HbA1C levels and the frequency of self-monitoring in any group.
Conclusions: There was no correlation between the frequency of SMBG and HbA1C, which questions the need for multiple daily measurements of blood glucose in all type 2 diabetic patients.