Abnormal color vision and reliable self-monitoring of blood glucose

Color vision was assessed in 103 insulin-dependent diabetic patients using the Farnsworth-Münsell 100-Hue Test. All showed color vision impairment. Thirty-four had true dyschromatopsia while 22 suffered from tritanopia or other axial defects. We evaluated how accurately diabetic patients could monitor their own blood glucose by asking them to read a series of 30 precalibrated BM Test Glycemic Strips (Chemstrip, Boehringer, Mannheim, West Germany) without a meter. Patients with axial defects performed least well regardless of 100-Hue scores. Reading accuracy of patients with no axial defects was strongly correlated to 100-Hue scores, although patients having dyschromatopsia were consistently hesitant about their readings. Our results suggest that self-monitoring of blood glucose without a meter is indicated only after color vision has been examined by the 100-Hue Test. Self-monitoring should be voided with patients suffering from axial defects or having unsatisfactory 100-Hue scores.