Association between frequency of self-monitoring of blood glucose and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes

To determine the association between the frequency of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.The retrospective study analyzed data from 3,630 patients with type 2 diabetes who were enrolled between August 2020 and July 2021. 2456 non-insulin-treated patients were divided into SMBG ≤6 times/week and >6 times/week groups. 1174 insulin-treated patients were divided into SMBG ≤9 times/week and >9 times/week groups. Propensity score matching was used to generate groups with well-balanced covariates. Primary outcomes were changes in fasting blood glucose (FBG) and postprandial blood glucose (PBG) from baseline to 6 months.In the non-insulin-treated group, a comparison in FBG and PBG reduction between the SMBG >6 times/week and ≤6 times/week groups was statistically significant (-0.59 vs. -0.18 mmol/l, P < 0.001; -0.91 vs. -0.36 mmol/l, P < 0.001). In the insulin-treated group, there was no statistically significant reduction in FBG or PBG, patients with baseline FBG >8 or 9 mmol/l and SMBG >9 times/week had a significant FBG reduction than the ≤9 times/week group.Frequent SMBG was associated with better glycemic control in non-insulin-treated patients. Insulin-treated patients with poor glycemic control may benefit from frequent SMBG.