Self-monitoring of blood glucose, as a means of self-management.

In Japan, the study of the self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) was started in 1976. After that, SMBG gradually became popular among the diabetes clinics, and was covered by health insurance in 1987. Although performers of SMBG constitute only 35% of all insulin-treated patients, it has been highly evaluated that 60% of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes perform SMBG. The results of this study of SMBG revealed that it was useful for the prevention of chronic complications and for the education of diabetes patients. New systems using an electrochemical technology are developing so rapidly that the newest model, with no wiping or blotting of a blood sample, will help the spread of SMBG. We must put emphasis on introducing SMBG as a means of self-management to all patients with diabetes.