Perceptions by Adult Patients With Type 1 and 2 Diabetes of Current and Advanced Technologies of Blood Glucose Monitoring: A Prospective Study

Al-Tamimi, Nouras; Slater, Natasha; Kayyali, Reem; ElShaer, Amr

Abstract

Objective
Intensive self-monitoring of blood glucose levels by patients with diabetes achieves optimal glucose control, hence reducing the likelihood of complications.

Methods
This is a prospective, cross-sectional study targeting adults with diabetes through community pharmacies and patient groups in Central and West London over a period of 10 weeks.

Results
In all, 195 adults with diabetes were included in the analysis of the results. When monitoring adherence was examined, 43.4% (n=33/76) of participants with type 1 diabetes reported that their health care professionals had asked them to monitor their blood glucose levels between 3 and 4 times per day; however, 10% of this group was not following their health-care professionals' directions. Participants with type 2 diabetes were asked the same question; 42.9% (n=51/119) were asked to monitor their blood glucose between 3 and 4 times a day, but only 2.5% (n=3/119) were following their health-care professionals' directions. When questioned about their reasons for poor adherence, the cohort indicated that it was due to the painful (29.2%, n=57/195), uncomfortable (33.8%, n=66/195) or inconvenient (36.9%, n=72/195) nature of testing. In addition, 75.3% (n=147/195) of the participants expressed their desire for a noninvasive monitoring device, and 74.3% (n=145/195) said they would be satisfied to use one of the preselected advanced technologies to monitor their blood glucose levels.

Conclusions
The favoured advanced technology, selected by 49.7% (n=97/195) of participants, was the wristband. Statistical significance was seen between the type of diabetes and the device selected; patients with type 1 diabetes preferred contact lenses (p<0.05) and tattoos (p<0.0001), whereas participants with type 2 diabetes preferred earlobe sensors (p<0.0001) and saliva analyzers (p<0.0001). Participants' gender, age and ethnicity also influenced device selection.

Citation

Al-Tamimi, N., Slater, N., Kayyali, R., & ElShaer, A. (2019). Perceptions by Adult Patients With Type 1 and 2 Diabetes of Current and Advanced Technologies of Blood Glucose Monitoring: A Prospective Study. Canadian Journal of Diabetes, 43(1), 27-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjd.2018.02.005

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 8, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Feb 21, 2018
• Publication Date: 2019-02
• Deposit Date: Aug 31, 2023
• Journal: CANADIAN JOURNAL OF DIABETES
• Print ISSN: 1499-2671
• Publisher: Canadian Diabetes Association
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 43
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 27-33
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjd.2018.02.005