SMBG: Troubleshooting with your Patients

Our blogger discusses potential issues your patients may face with self-monitoring of blood glucose and offers troubleshooting tips.

Happy 2017! Here’s to an even better year of continued growth and happiness!Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) provides the patient and health care team invaluable information on both long-term glucose trends and immediate feedback in times of rapidly increasing or decreasing readings.What if the picture that these tools give isn’t clear? I wanted to examine some potential issues that crop up with SMBG, and some potential troubleshooting tips.Â

References:

1. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Sickle Cell Trait and Other Hemoglobinopathies and Diabetes: Important Information for Providers. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/diagnostic-tests/sickle-cell-trait-other-hemoglobinopathies-diabetes/Pages/index.aspx. Accessed December 21, 2016.