Home blood glucose monitoring as an aid in diabetes management.

Home blood glucose monitoring, using Dextrostix and an Eyetone meter, has been utilized in several subcategories of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. These include pregnant patients, anephric patients, patients undergoing weight reduction, patients with altered renal threshold for glucose reabsorption, and patients in whom diabetic regulation is difficult. Patients monitored home blood glucose continually (on a daily basis), intermittently, or only for particular problems or symptoms. Such monitoring can be practically accomplished in a manner acceptable to patients. Motivation, compliance with protocol, and an understanding of the objectives of the program are essential on the part of the patient. Home blood glucose monitoring, however, can provide an insight diabetes regulation that cannot be attained in any other way and can greatly facilitate regulation of diabetes. Such home blood glucose monitoring may increase the likelihood of achievement of a degree of control approximating euglycemia.