Self-monitoring of blood glucose and insulin dose alteration in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between proper use of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) including knowledge and application of specific algorithms and metabolic control in a group of randomly selected insulin-dependent diabetic patients. We studied 80 patients responding to the following criteria: intensive conventional insulin therapy and SMBG for at least 6 months using a reflectance meter, and previous 5-day hospital education period. The practical knowledge of the guidelines was evaluated by a questionnaire simulating 8 metabolic situations.