The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7345 p446
16 April 2005

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NICE criticised for failing to outline frequency of glucose testing

All people with type 1 diabetes should have access to a blood glucose monitor at least four times a day, according to guidance published by the Self-monitoring Blood Glucose Consensus Group.

The group, writing in Diabetes and Primary Care (2005;7:9), criticises National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance for failing to outline the frequency of blood glucose testing needed for different patient groups or how it should relate to different situations. The group suggests:

· Pregnant women treated with insulin should monitor their blood glucose levels at least four times a day, including fasting and one hour postprandial measurements, to enable measurement of peak levels

· People with type 2 diabetes with stable control on insulin should monitor their blood glucose two or three times a week

· Drivers with diabetes should test their blood glucose before commencing a journey and at regular intervals on long journeys

Tim O’Donoghue provides a diabetes monitoring service at his community pharmacy in Eastcote, West London. “Pharmacists can help explain the importance of blood glucose testing to patients and answer questions patients may have. People visit pharmacies frequently, so information and advice can be built on each time they go in. And because pharmacies are accessible, people can go home and come back to follow up something they do not understand.” He also said that patients

may want to have hands-on trials of different types of meter and that consulting rooms can help make people feel more comfortable about raising questions about their diabetes.