Self-monitoring: the patient-practitioner alliance

Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is an essential component of the therapeutic regimen in diabetes management and new technology offers a variety of options for patients and practitioners. This article presents guidelines for appropriate use of SMBG in persons with diabetes and a discussion of quality assurance and infection control issues. A strong patient-practitioner alliance encourages compliance and supports the maximum use of information obtained by SMBG.