Routine Self-Monitoring of Glucose in Non–Insulin-Treated Type 2 Diabetes Is Ineffective and Costly

Routine self-monitoring of glucose levels is promoted as a means of improving glycemic control among people with type 2 diabetes. Presumably, patients who are aware of their glucose level will more likely achieve glycemic control. However, in a recent trial (JW Jul 3 2007), no differences were found in hemoglobin A_1c levels after 12 months among 453 non–insulin-treated type 2 diabetics who were randomized to usual care, to additional self-monitoring with advice to contact their physician to interpret the results (less-intensive monitoring), or to additional self-monitoring with training in interpreting and responding to the results (more-intensive monitoring). In addition, self-monitoring is expensive. Using data from the same trial, invest…