This was probably discussed while I was wandering. The Roche
Accu-chek newsletter last week mentioned this study, but I'm
too cheap to pay for the full version.

At last some research of the subject, albeit still limited:
http://tinyurl.com/ycp9cl or
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstra
ctPlus&list_uids=16362814&itool=iconabstr&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_DocSum

"Self-monitoring of blood glucose in type 2 diabetes and
long-term outcome: an epidemiological cohort study.

   * Martin S,
   * Schneider B,
   * Heinemann L,
   * Lodwig V,
   * Kurth HJ,
   * Kolb H,
   * Scherbaum WA.

German Diabetes Clinic, German Diabetes Centre at the
Heinrich-Heine-University, Dusseldorf, Auf'm Hennekamp 65,
40225 Dusseldorf, Germany.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to obtain
epidemiological data on self-monitoring of blood glucose
(SMBG) in type 2 diabetes and to investigate the
relationship of SMBG with disease-related morbidity and
mortality.

METHODS: The German multicentre Retrolective Study
'Self-monitoring of Blood Glucose and Outcome in Patients
with Type 2 Diabetes' (ROSSO) followed 3,268 patients from
diagnosis of type 2 diabetes between 1995 and 1999 until the
end of 2003. Endpoints were diabetes-related morbidity
(non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke, foot amputation,
blindness or haemodialysis) and all-cause mortality. SMBG
was defined as self-measurement of blood glucose for at
least 1 year.

RESULTS: During a mean follow-up period of 6.5 years, 1,479
patients (45.3%) began SMBG prior to an endpoint and an
additional 64 patients started SMBG after a non-fatal
endpoint. Interestingly, many patients used SMBG while being
treated with diet or oral hypoglycaemic drugs (808 of 2,515,
32%). At baseline, the SMBG cohort had higher mean fasting
blood glucose levels than the non-SMBG cohort (p<0.001),
suggesting that insufficient metabolic control was one
reason for initiating SMBG. This was associated with a
higher rate of microvascular endpoints. However, the total
rate of non-fatal events, micro- and macrovascular, was
lower in the SMBG group than in the non-SMBG group (7.2 vs
10.4%, p=0.002). A similar difference was found for the rate
of fatal events (2.7 vs 4.6%, p=0.004). Cox regression
analysis identified SMBG as an independent predictor of
morbidity and mortality, with adjusted hazard ratios of 0.68
(95% CI 0.51-0.91, p=0.009) and 0.49 (95% CI 0.31-0.78,
p=0.003), respectively. A better outcome for both endpoints
was also observed in the SMBG cohort when only those
patients who were not receiving insulin were analysed.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: SMBG was associated with
decreased diabetes-related morbidity and all-cause mortality
in type 2 diabetes, and this association remained in a
subgroup of patients who were not receiving insulin therapy.

SMBG may be associated with a healthier lifestyle and/or
better disease management."

Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia.
d&e, metformin 1000mg, ezetrol 10mg
Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.
--
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Florence