Lack of compliance with home blood glucose monitoring predicts hospitalization in diabetes.

Home capillary blood glucose (CBG) monitoring is the standard of care for patients with diabetes (1,2). Patients with type 1 diabetes should monitor their CBG concentration at least three or four times daily, and patients with type 2 diabetes should probably monitor their CBG concentration at least twice a day (1). Nevertheless, up to 67% of patients with diabetes fail to routinely monitor their CBG levels (3). Although the relationship between rigorous home blood glucose monitoring and improved glycemic control is well-established, determinants of compliance with home blood glucose monitoring recommendations are not known. Reported here are the results of a marketing survey exploring attitudes and behaviors surrounding compliance with home CBG monitoring.