Monitoring Diabetes

Optimizing management of diabetes includes monitoring of glucose levels. Raised glucose levels are associated with increased levels of complications. Timely introduction and adjustment of therapy is required to maintain glucose levels in a range where the risks of complications are minimized. The tests used for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are the same, measurement of blood glucose levels and measurement of HbA1c levels. There have been substantial technical advances in measurement of both these resulting in more accurate and precise laboratory measurement, and availability of devices that can be used for measurement in the community. The extent to which advanced technology is used in the community requires assessment of costs and clinical benefit. Point-of-care management using blood glucose meters is now a standard of care for individuals with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes treated with insulin. Blood glucose meters for individuals with type 2 diabetes are required where issues of hypoglycemia need to be considered. Continuous glucose measurement is now increasingly used to optimize glycemic control in type 1 diabetes, particularly where control is difficult to achieve without use of a continuous insulin infusion pump.