Home monitoring of blood glucose by diabetic patients.

The history of urine and blood glucose monitoring by diabetic patients is reviewed briefly. The technique of blood glucose monitoring with Dextrostix-Eyetone and Dextrostix-Glucochek is described in detail. The use of blood glucose monitoring in different diabetic groups is discussed. Although most experience has been gained with insulin-treated patients evidence suggests that it will also be helpful in diet and tablet-treated patients. Blood glucose monitoring has allowed normoglycaemia to be maintained indefinitely with the use of conventional insulin regimes and with no increase in the risk of hypoglycaemia. Blood glucose monitoring is a widely available technique for improving diabetic control that is preferred to urine testing by more than 90 per cent of patients.