TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ — According to a new
study, people with diabetes, especially those treated with insulin,
may achieve optimal blood sugar control when they understand the
impact of food on blood sugar and they utilize useful advanced
blood glucose meter (BGM) features such as meal markers and audible
reminders. These findings, presented at the 46th European
Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting in
Stockholm, Sweden, are important because structured self management
of blood glucose (SMBG) may be integral to attaining optimal
glycemic control. Further, understanding and utilization of
particular advanced BGM features may improve the value of SMBG.
A six-month randomized, multicenter prospective clinical
outcomes study called ACT (Actions with the CONTOUR®
Blood Glucose Meter and Behaviors in Frequent Testers), conducted
at four clinical sites in the U.S., evaluated the impact of
diabetes education plus use of advanced BGM features
versus diabetes education plus use of meters with
basic features. Investigators also evaluated the influence of
SMBG information, motivation, and behavioral skills on measures of
glycemic control via survey questions based on the
Information-Motivation-Behavioral skills (IMB) model. The study was
sponsored by Bayer HealthCare.
Clinical results indicate that ACT study participants who were
randomized to the advanced meter features group (n=105), and used
meal markers and audible reminders, engaged in significantly more
structured testing, including post-meal testing as well as paired
(before and after meal) testing, than those who were randomized to
basic meter features. Moreover, 72 percent of study participants in
the advanced meter features group had a better understanding of the
difference between before and after meal blood sugar results.
Remembering to test blood sugar levels is one of the obstacles
for patients wi
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