A longitudinal study into the new and long-term use of self-monitoring blood XXXX strips in the UK.

@entity1 @entity1697 @entity6 @entity164 @entity413
AIMS: To determine the impact of self-monitoring blood @entity413 (SMBG) strip use in @entity1 with @entity164 2 @entity6 in the UK. METHODS: The study period was April 1, 2004 to July 31, 2005. Data from primary care was extracted from The Health Improvement Network database. @entity1 identified with @entity6 and matching the inclusion criteria were defined as new users of SMBG, prevalent users, or non-users. @entity1 were also defined as treated with insulin, with @entity1697 ( @entity1697 ), or not pharmacologically treated. Change in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) at baseline and after 12 months was compared. RESULTS: 2559 @entity1 met the inclusion criteria. For new users, HbA(1c) fell by 0.59% (P=0.399) for those treated with insulin, 1.52% (P<0.001) for those treated with @entity1697 , and 0.51% (P<0.001) for no treatment. In prevalent users, changes were 0.31% (P<0.001), 0.34% (P<0.001), and 0.09% (P=0.456), respectively. In non-users, changes were 0.28% (P=0.618), 0.42% (P<0.001), and an increase of 0.05% (P=0.043), respectively. A significant decrease in mean HbA(1c) was associated with increasing strip use in @entity1697 @entity1 newly initiated on strips. CONCLUSION: This observational study showed a significant decrease in HbA(1c) for new users of SMBG treated either non-pharmacologically or with @entity1697 , and for prevalent users treated with insulin or @entity1697 . Reduced HbA(1c) with increasing strip use was observed but was only significant for @entity1697 -treated new users. This suggests that SMBG use has a role in the treatment of non-insulin treated @entity1 with @entity164 2 @entity6 .
