I.Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG)

People who are on insulin using SMBG should be inspired to test when appropriate based on their insulin regimen. This may include testing when fasting, preceding meals and snacks, at bedtime, before exercise, when low blood glucose is suspected, after treating low blood glucose until they are normoglycemic, and earlier and while performing critical tasks.

When suggesting SMBG, ensure that patients gather ongoing instruction and regular evaluation of technique, results, and their ability to use data, including uploading/sharing data (if applicable), from SMBG devices to adjust therapy. SMBG is especially significant for insulin-treated patients to monitor for and avoid hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. A database study on children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes presented that, after adjustment for multiple confounders, increased daily frequency of SMBG was significantly associated with lower A1 [11].
