Customise Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorised as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyse the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customised advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyse the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

What is so tough about self-monitoring of blood glucose? Perceived obstacles among patients with Type 2 diabetes

Authors:  Polonsky, WH. Fisher, L., Hessler, D., Edelman, SV.

Abstract

Aims: To identify patient-reported obstacles to self-monitoring of blood glucose among those with Type 2, both insulin users and non-insulin users, and to investigate how obstacles are associated with frequency of self-monitoring and use of self-monitoring data.

Methods: Patients with Type 2 diabetes (n = 886, 65% insulin users) who attended a 1-day diabetes education conference in cities across the USA completed a survey on current and recommended self-monitoring of blood glucose frequency, how they used self-monitoring results and perceived obstacles to self-monitoring use. Exploratory factor analysis examined 12 obstacle items to identify underlying factors. Regression analyses examined associations between self-monitoring of blood glucose use and the key obstacle factors identified in the exploratory factor analysis.

Results: Three obstacle factors emerged: Avoidance, Pointlessness and Burden. Avoidance was the only significant independent predictor of self-monitoring frequency (β = -0.23, P < 0.001). Avoidance (β = -0.12, P < 0.01) and Pointlessness (β = -0.15, P < 0.001) independently predicted how often self-monitoring data were shared with healthcare professionals and whether or not data were used to make management adjustments (Avoidance: odds ratio = 0.74, P < 0.001; Pointlessness: odds ratio = 0.75, P < 0.01). Burden was not associated with any of the self-monitoring behavioural measures. Few differences between insulin users and non-insulin users were noted.

Conclusions: Obstacles to self-monitoring of blood glucose use, both practical and emotional, were common. Higher levels of Avoidance and Pointlessness, but not Burden, were associated with less frequent self-monitoring use. Addressing patients’ self-monitoring-related emotional concerns (Avoidance and Pointlessness) may be more beneficial in enhancing interest and engagement with self-monitoring of blood glucose than focusing on day-to-day, behavioural issues (Burden).

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23819529/

Share the Post:

BDI Monthly Events

September 10Case Consultation
September 10: BDI hosts the San Diego-wide, monthly case consultation meeting (for mental health professionals working in the field of diabetes). Contact us at info@behavioraldiabetes.org if you are in the greater San Diego area and would like further information about this program.
September 14T1D Meet-up
September 14: Time for another T1D meet-up! GrownupT1Ds, a wonderful nonprofit here in southern California, which organizes fun social events for adults with type 1 diabetes here in southern California. This next one will be at 2 pm at Altar Society Brewing & Coffee Co, 230 Pine Ave, Long Beach. This event is free, but space is limited. Please RSVP at www.grownupt1ds.org
September 27Scripps Presentation
September 27: Dr. Polonsky (BDI President), will be presenting The Power of Psych at Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute’s 2025 Updates in Diabetes Management, in La Jolla (CA). See: https://www.scripps.org/events/2025-updates-in-diabetes-management-september-27-2025
September 10Case Consultation
September 10: BDI hosts the San Diego-wide, monthly case consultation meeting (for mental health professionals working in the field of diabetes). Contact us at info@behavioraldiabetes.org if you are in the greater San Diego area and would like further information about this program.
September 14T1D Meet-up
September 14: Time for another T1D meet-up! GrownupT1Ds, a wonderful nonprofit here in southern California, which organizes fun social events for adults with type 1 diabetes here in southern California. This next one will be at 2 pm at Altar Society Brewing & Coffee Co, 230 Pine Ave, Long Beach. This event is free, but space is limited. Please RSVP at www.grownupt1ds.org
September 27Scripps Presentation
September 27: Dr. Polonsky (BDI President), will be presenting The Power of Psych at Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute’s 2025 Updates in Diabetes Management, in La Jolla (CA). See: https://www.scripps.org/events/2025-updates-in-diabetes-management-september-27-2025
September 10Case Consultation
September 10: BDI hosts the San Diego-wide, monthly case consultation meeting (for mental health professionals working in the field of diabetes). Contact us at info@behavioraldiabetes.org if you are in the greater San Diego area and would like further information about this program.
September 14T1D Meet-up
September 14: Time for another T1D meet-up! GrownupT1Ds, a wonderful nonprofit here in southern California, which organizes fun social events for adults with type 1 diabetes here in southern California. This next one will be at 2 pm at Altar Society Brewing & Coffee Co, 230 Pine Ave, Long Beach. This event is free, but space is limited. Please RSVP at www.grownupt1ds.org
September 27Scripps Presentation
September 27: Dr. Polonsky (BDI President), will be presenting The Power of Psych at Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute’s 2025 Updates in Diabetes Management, in La Jolla (CA). See: https://www.scripps.org/events/2025-updates-in-diabetes-management-september-27-2025