Cost-Effectiveness of Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose in Type 2 Diabetic Patients Not Receiving Insulin
Response to Neeser et al.
- Clinical Center for Research Excellence, Charles R. Drew University, Los Angeles, California
- Address correspondence to Mayer B. Davidson, MD, Charles R. Drew University, Clinical Center for Research Excellence, 1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059. E-mail: madavids{at}cdrewu.edu
Neeser et al. (1) challenge my argument that self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in type 2 diabetic patients not taking insulin is not beneficial for lowering glycemia and therefore is a waste of (a lot of) money (2).
In a meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials, Welschen et al. (3) found a significant reduction of 0.39% in HbA1c (A1C) levels in type 2 diabetic patients not taking insulin who performed SMBG. Welschen et al. did point out that the reduction was only significant in two of the trials and that the conclusion that SMBG was …
