Diabetic patient self-monitoring

Abstract

Introduction: The aims are to investigate the perception of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) regarding self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and to identify problems encountered when carrying out BG monitoring. Methods: A questionnaire on SMBG developed in English and Maltese and validated in a previous study by Cassar (2009) was updated with the inclusion of a section on CGM. The questionnaire is anonymous and completed via semi-structured interview. One hundred T1DM patients ?18 years are recruited by convenience sampling from 15 community pharmacies. Results: Preliminary findings from 10 patients (7 female, mean age 50 years, 7 educated to secondary level, 7 with duration of T1DM 5 years) show that SMBG is performed only once daily in 5 patients, more than once daily in 4 patients, and only when experiencing hypoglycaemia symptoms in 1 patient. Most frequent problems encountered with SMBG are painful finger pricking (n=7), high cost of buying extra test strips (n=5) and lancets (n=5), need for frequent testing (n=5), and time restrictions in busy schedule (n=5). No patients use a CGM device, however 5 patients have heard of CGM. Reasons for not using CGM are need for more awareness (n=7) and cost (n=3). Seven patients are willing to start using CGM, with 5 patients only willing if the CGM device is made available free-of-charge through the National Health Service. Conclusion: Improving awareness and access to CGM is warranted to overcome self-monitoring problems identified, such as painful frequent finger pricking.