Teaching diabetic ptients about self-management.

It takes approximately 20 min to teach a patient how to use Dextrostix reagent strips in conjunction with an Eyetone reflectance meter (or the more recently introduced Glucochek). Blood glucose monitoring is no more difficult or time consuming than conventional urine testing and can be learned and executed by patients of various levels of intelligence. It is important to emphasize the need for an adequate drop of blood and the use of Monolet blood lancets has greatly facilitated this. Emphasis is put on the most useful times to make recordings and the importance of good record-keeping. The more intelligent patients readily learn how to adjust their insulin to improve their blood glucose readings while the less intelligent need help and advice. Experience has shown that no only are blood glucose levels improved but also hypoglycemic episodes are less commmon.