Home urinary glucose testing. Its impact on a Third World diabetic population

A simple system of home urinary glucose testing was introduced at the Ga-Rankuwa Hospital diabetic clinic 2 years ago. The patients are relatively unsophisticated; 20% above 16 years of age are illiterate and only 6% are employed in professions. The overall compliance rate with home testing is 55% and those complying have mean random blood glucose levels (9,8 +/- 4,5 mmol/l) significantly lower than those of non-compliers (11,1 +/- 4,6 mmol/l). In the compliers home urine testing appears to be reliable; this is shown by a good correlation between the absence or presence of glucosuria at home and low and high random blood glucose levels at the clinic. These findings have helped us to define objectives more clearly and to select suitable patients for home blood glucose measurement.