What are the benefits of this change?

•The most obvious benefit is that you do not need to do the finger pricking as often.

•Studies have shown that patients who do not use insulin, but do blood glucose testing, may have greater distress and worry, without any improvement in overall diabetic control.

•Blood glucose testing materials are expensive. The money could be better used to provide many other services and treatments that people with diabetes are likely to need.

Remember

• Only test if you need to and you can act on the result

• Only order the number of test strips you need

Why was I previously advised to buy a blood glucose meter?

•Some people were advised to carry out self monitoring of blood glucose in the past. Now that NICE have reviewed the evidence and issued guidelines, it is more widely recognised that self monitoring does not always lead to better control of blood glucose levels.

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Blood

Glucose

Testing

Patient Leaflet

Do I really need to use all those fingerpricks if I am not on insulin?

Updated: June 2014

Review date: June 2017

What is changing about blood glucose monitoring?

• Current advice from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) states:

Self-monitoring of plasma glucose should be available:

  • to those on insulin treatment
  • to those on oral glucose-lowering medications to provideinformation on hypoglycaemia
  • to assess changes in glucose control resulting from medicationsand lifestyle changes
  • to monitor changes during intercurrent illness
  • to ensure safety during activities, including driving.

•We are therefore asking doctors and nurses to think carefully about prescribing blood glucose testing strips particularly outside these groups

How is blood glucose best monitored?

•When you have a diabetic check-up, a blood sample for the HbA1c test is taken. This is a way of measuring blood glucose control over the 6-8 weeks before the test. If your blood glucose has been high during that time, your HbA1c will also be high.

•This shows how well your diabetes is being managed, and for many people this is all that is needed.

•Your surgery will normally test this twice a year if your blood glucose is steady, or more often if you have a change in medication or your HbA1c is high.

•Urine testing can be used for people not on insulin. Your doctor or nurse will advise if this is appropriate for you.

When should I test my own blood glucose levels?

•Self monitoring of blood glucose is appropriate if you use insulin and can adjust your dose as a result of the test.

  • It may also be appropriate to test if you are ill.
  • Self monitoring is also appropriate if you are on gliclazide and your HbA1c is less than 60mmol/mol.

•Your doctor or nurse will be able to advise you on the best times to test your glucose level, and what action to take if it too high or too low.

•Knowing what to do with the results of the test is more important than collecting a lot of results.