Self-monitoring of blood glucose improved glycaemic control and 10-year coronary heart disease risk profile of type 2 diabetic patients.

Background: The debate over the overall benefits of self-monitoring of blood glucose in type 2 diabetes patients is still continuing. We aimed to assess the difference in glycaemic control and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk levels of experimental type 2 diabetes patients provided with facilities for self-monitoring blood glucose and their counterparts without such facilities.

Methods: Sixty-one patients who had no prior experience in using glucometers were studied as intervention (n = 30) and control (n = 31) groups.

Anaemia and kidney dysfunction in Caribbean type 2 diabetic patients.

Background: Anaemia has been shown in previous studies to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients with chronic kidney disorder. This study was aimed to assess the prevalence of anaemia and kidney dysfunction in Caribbean type 2 diabetic patients that have been previously shown to have a high prevalence of the metabolic syndrome.

Methods: 155 type 2 diabetic patients and 51 non-diabetic subjects of African origin were studied.