[Effectiveness and efficacy of self-measurement of capillary blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus].

Background And Objective: The efficacy of self-measurement of capillary blood glucose (SMBG) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus is not fully established. The objectives of the study were: a) to verify the efficacy of the SMBG in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the primary care set; b) to investigate the possible causes that explain the lack of effectiveness of the method, in their case, and c) to deduce the predictive variables that permit to select good utilizador of the SMBG.

Patients And Method: Clinical trial controlled and randomized carried out in the environment of the primary care, on type 2 diabetic patients.

[Assessing COPD-associated morbidity: factors of prognosis].

Background And Objective: Forced respiratory volume in first second spirometry is currently used to diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, this technique does not always provide a reliable short-term prognosis, especially in patients with associated morbidity. We propose that specific health-related quality of life questionnaires are a better tool to estimate the prognosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.