25-Jun-2009
We have found no convincing evidence to recommend routine use of SMBG by reasonably well-controlled, non-insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes. The specific advantages of monitoring identified by patients need to be placed in the context of a decline in compliance in the more intensive monitoring group and, at best, a small reduction in HbA1c. Neither the within-trial economic analysis nor the long-term modelling supports SMBG as a cost-effective intervention for all non-insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes. However, a clinically important benefit for specific subgroups of patients in initiating good glycaemic control cannot be excluded without further research.
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