[Metabolic self care in diabetics: when blood sugar analysis, when urine analysis?]

Techniques, costs and clinical use of home urine glucose monitoring (HUGM) and of home blood glucose monitoring (HBGM) are discussed. HUGM is recommended for type II diabetics with a near-normal renal glucose threshold and for stable type I diabetics. HBGM ist indicated in the following cases: during normoglycemic insulin therapy, at the beginning of insulin therapy, to distinguish between a rapid fall in blood glucose and true hypoglycemia, to assess the risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia, to manage hyperglycemic episodes, when HUGM ist misleading, e.g. in the presence of residual bladder urine and with a high or low renal glucose threshold. In conclusion, the disadvantages of HBGM are discussed.