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Knowledge and practice of self home monitoring of blood glucose


T H Raimi
O A Adewuya
A O Ajayi

Abstract

Objectives: Both glycosylated haemoglobin and self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) are necessary for optimal monitoring of glycaemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients attending the endocrine clinic of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti. With the aid of interviewer administered questionnaire, demographic and other information on awareness of SMBG, ownership of glucometer, and practice of SMBG were obtained. The data was analysed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.

Results: One hundred and four patients comprising 29 males (27.9%) and 75 females (72.1%) were studied with a mean age of 59.6±13.7 years. Twenty two (21.2%) subjects had no formal education, while 38 (36.5%), 16 (15.4%), 28(26.9%) subjects had primary, secondary and tertiary education respectively. Sixty seven patients (64.4%) were aware of SMBG. Out of these, only 19 subjects (18.3%) had glucometers. Age and level of education were significantly related to ownership of glucometer (p<0.01), while income, gender, marital status and duration of diabetes were not. Only level of education predicted ownership of glucometer.

Conclusions: The awareness of SMBG was good but ownership of glucometer was poor. Age and level of education were determinants of ownership of glucometer. Only level of education predicted ownership of glucometer.

Key Words: Diabetes mellitus, blood glucose, self-monitoring, knowledge, practice

Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 2467-8252
print ISSN: 2360-7793