A prospective study to evaluate the benefits of long-term self-monitoring of blood glucose in diabetic children.

The benefits of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in diabetic children have been assessed in an 18-mo prospective study by comparison of two groups, one receiving intensive education (N = 20) and the other, education combined with SMBG (N = 19). Regular home visits were made with all children during which attempts were made to optimize diabetes control. Mean blood glucose levels in the SMBG group showed a downward trend throughout the study; however, values at baseline (11.7 mmol/L) were not significantly different from those at completion of the study (10.8 mmol/L). Hemoglobin A1c levels showed a seasonal fluctuation, but values at the beginning and end of the study were nearly identical to each other in both groups. The SMBG group showed a reduction in the number of hospital admissions for stabilization of control and for ketoacidosis (P less than 0.04).