[Blood glucose self-monitoring with the Glucosignal test strip in routine practice--experiences of a district diabetes center]

Abstract

32 patients (19 females, 13 males; 28 type I diabetics and 4 type II diabetics) with a diabetes mellitus we taught the blood glucose self-control under working conditions by means of the test strip Glucosignal. 9 diabetics were excluded from the investigation. The main reasons for this were: inability to acquire the withdrawal technique, abuse of alcohol, unreliability and attitude of opposition to the own disease. During the duration of observation of on an average 13.8 months (11 to 25 months) in the remaining 23 patients an improvement of metabolism could be obtained with the same need of insulin. In three quarters of the cases correction of the metabolism were made by the patients by insulin variation and only for the smallest part by physical conditioning. Intensive theoretical and practical training and good motivation of the patients decide on success or failure of the optimization of metabolism. The various possibilities of an influence on ambulatory day-night-profiles under working conditions are discussed.