Diabetes monitoring
Friday, 18 Apr 2008 11:05
People with diabetes need to know how and when to take medication
Two reports have raised the question of whether it is worthwhile people with type two diabetes monitoring their own condition.
The studies, published by the British Medical Journal (BMJ), say self-monitoring is not cost effective and can lead to people feeling anxious and depressed.
People with diabetes are advised to lead a healthy lifestyle, self-monitor blood glucose and adhere to medication guidance.
The first report by researchers at the University of Ulster studied 184 people with newly diagnosed type two diabetes.
The study found no significant effect of self-monitoring of blood glucose on glycaemic control but revealed that it may be associated with high levels of depression and anxiety.
Some participants said they found self-monitoring "uncomfortable, intrusive and unpleasant".
"The negative effect [of monitoring] might relate less to feelings of powerlessness in the face of high blood glucose readings than to the enforced discipline of regular monitoring without any tangible gain," the researchers concluded.
The second study by researchers at Oxford University said that "self-monitoring of blood glucose is unlikely to be cost effective in addition to standardised usual care".
inthenews.co.uk brings you all the key responses and comment on the issue throughout the day.