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Perceptions of Caribbean type 2 diabetes patients on self-monitoring of blood glucose
C E Ezenwaka1, A Olukoga, P Onuoha
1The Diabetes & Metabolism Research Group, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus, Trinidad. chidum.ezenwaka@sta.uwi.edu
Context:
The views of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients have not been considered in the debate on the role of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in the management of T2DM.
Objective:
To assess the views of T2DM patients on SMBG.
Methods:
Two previously trained research assistants used a structured pre-tested questionnaire to interview 416 T2DM patients practising SMBG in out-patient clinics in the privacy of the patients after they have consented to be interviewed.
Results:
79% of patients were unemployed with mean duration of diabetes of 11.8 ± 0.5 year. 94% of patients did not have health insurance policies while 86% did not belong to any diabetes support group. Although 70% of the patients identified SMBG as expensive, 94% believed it assists glycaemic control, while 89% thought it was worth the expense.
Conclusion:
Caribbean T2DM patients believe SMBG was beneficial for the management of their diabetes and empowering them may reduce diabetes complications.
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