Importance of Blood Glucose Monitoring to Achieve Short- and Long-Term Glycemic Control

OBJECTIVE: To review the importance of short- and long-term glucose monitoring in people with diabetes, emphasizing the relationship between elevated fasting and postprandial glucose levels and their association with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). DESIGN: Literature review. RESULTS: Numerous epidemiologic and interventional studies have demonstrated that lowering blood glucose to normal or near-normal levels for several years prevents the onset and delays the progression of microvascular complications including retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy. Based on a substantial amount of data, the American Diabetes Association recommends that treatment of all individuals with diabetes be aimed at lowering blood glucose to normal or near-normal levels. CONCLUSIONS: Frequent self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), if used properly, can be effective at improving glycemic control on a day-to-day basis. 5MBG should be done daily and should include measurement of both fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels. Routi...