Usage of glucometer is associated with improved glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Malaysian public primary care clinics: an open-label, randomised controlled trial.
- Author:
Mastura ISMAIL
1
;
Cheong-Lieng TENG
;
Chong-Lieng TENG
;
Mimi OMAR
;
Bee Kiau HO
;
Zainab KUSIAR
;
Ruziaton HASIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Adult; Aged; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; blood; Female; Glycated Hemoglobin A; analysis; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Primary Health Care
- From:Singapore medical journal 2013;54(7):391-395
- CountrySingapore
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
INTRODUCTIONSelf-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) has been underutilised. We conducted an open-label, randomised controlled trial to assess the feasibility of introducing SMBG in primary care clinics in Malaysia.
METHODSThis was an open-label, randomised controlled trial conducted in five public primary care clinics in Malaysia. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (age range 35-65 years) not performing SMBG at the time of the study were randomised to receive either a glucometer for SMBG or usual care. Both groups of patients received similar diabetes care from the clinics.
RESULTSA total of 105 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were enrolled. Of these, 58 and 47 were randomised to intervention and control groups, respectively. After six months, the glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level in the intervention group showed a statistically significant improvement of 1.3% (p = 0.001; 95% confidence interval 0.6-2.0), relative to the control group that underwent usual care. The percentages of patients that reached the HbA1c treatment target of ≤ 7% were 14.0% and 32.1% in the control and intervention groups (p = 0.036), respectively.
CONCLUSIONThe usage of a glucometer improved glycaemic control, possibly due to the encouragement of greater self-care in the intervention group.
