Self Blood Glucose Monitoring: An Update

Abstract

The trend toward the use of self blood glucose monitoring (SBGM) can be attributed to several factors. Changing attitudes toward healthcare show signs of moving from the traditional authoritarian to a participative model in which health professionals and consumers share decision making. Indications for its use have multiplied, as have the several methods of monitoring. The newest products, Visidex, Glucoscan II, Glucometer, AccuChek bG, and blood-letting devices, are reviewed. Educator responsibilities are included.Thousands of years elapsed between the time ancient observers first noted the presence of sugar in the urine of individuals with diabetes and the advent of methods for measuring urine sugars. Convenient ways for testing urine glucose have been available to consumers for a mere twenty years.

Impact of an Instructional Program on Nurses' Accuracy in Capillary Blood Glucose Monitoring

“…Although products vary, the procedure is based on the principle of a color change in a reagent strip containing glucose oxidase coupled to a chromosome, in response to the glucose in the capillary blood sample. Results may be interpreted visually or with a reflection meter that must be calibrated frequently to maintain reliability (Hernandez, 1983;McNeil, 1983;Orzeck, 1982;Surr, 1983). The most common of these strips are the Dextrostix and Chemstrip, used with the corresponding meter to read the strip.…”

A Mastery Learning Program for Self Blood Glucose Monitoring

“…Demonstrate, accompanied by a verbal explanation, the procedure for use of the selected system by gathering and preparing the appropriate equipment, obtaining a large enough drop of blood to cover the reagent pad, wiping or washing the blood off the reagent pad completely after the appropriate time, and monitoring the time before interpreting the results using principles of asepsis and safety. 3. Write the blood glucose results on a record sheet along with the date, time, urine ketone results, and any pertinent remarks (see Table II).…”