Self-monitoring of blood glucose, practices, and determinants in type 2 diabetics

Background: Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose is an approach whereby people with diabetes measure their blood sugar themselves using a glycemic reader device (glucose meter).Based on the reading, they can adjust or check the effect of their treatment (diet, exercise, insulin, antidiabetics) or consult their physician.Objectives: To assess the practice and determinants of self-monitoring of blood glucose in type2 Diabetic patients.Patients and method: A cross-sectional study, carried at the endocrine and diabetes center in Al-Sadr Hospital in Al-Najaf governorate in Iraq at the period from the 1st of July to the end of Dec 2020.A Convenient sample included type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with age 18 years and above by direct interview using structured questionnaire.Results: About (73.8%) were currently using a glucometer, (79.4%) said they changed their device, and only 170 (44.3%) calibrate the device with laboratory, on the other hand, most of the glucometer users, (89.9%), changed the lancet at each test but unfortunately (10.2%) did not.About (61.2%) patients had good and (38.8%) had poor self-monitoring of blood glucose.Conclusion: Less than 2/3rd of patients had good practice levels.A significant association was found with age, marital state, occupation, education, and disease duration.