Self-monitoring of blood glucose among diabetes patients attending government health clinics

The aims of this study were (i) to determine the prevalence of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) among Type 2 diabetes patients attending government health clinics and (ii) to ascertain the factors influencing SMBG. Five hundred and fifty-six Type 2 diabetes patients from two government health clinics in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The total subjects of the study were 556 patients. Eighty-five patients (15.3%) of patients; performed SMBG. However, 170 subjects were included in the statistical analysis, 85 patients who were not self-monitoring were randomly selected and was compared with 85 patients who were self-monitoring. Among those who performed SMBG, the majority (83.5%) monitored less than once per day and only 16.5% monitored at least once a day. One-third of patients adjusted their medications based on their SMBG results. The higher patient's level of education (p= 0.024, CI 1.29 - 35.3); the higher total family income (p= 0.041, CI 1.26 - 4.79); the longer duration of diabetes (p<0.01, CI 2.22 - 7.29); and treatment regime which includes insulin (p< 0.001, CI 2.05 -9.24) were significant predictors of SMBG practice. Although SMBG is recognised to be useful and effective in achieving diabetes control, this study has found that only a minority of patients with diabetes performed SMBG. Hence healthcare personnel must increase awareness on the importance of SMBG and strongly promote the practice among diabetic patients.