Abstract
Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is universally considered to be an integral part of type 1 diabetes management and crucial for optimising the safety and efficacy of complex insulin regimens. This extends to type 2 diabetes patients on intensive insulin therapy.
There is also a growing body of evidence suggesting that structured SMBG is beneficial for all type 2 diabetes patients,regardless of therapy. However, access to SMBG is limited in many countries in Central and Eastern Europe.
Therefore a consensus group of diabetes experts from ten countries in this region (with overlapping historical, political and social environments) - Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine has developed evidencebased recommendations for the appropriate use of SMBG as a part of the individualised patient management. The expert group considers SMBG to be an essential tool that should be accessible to all patients with diabetes, including those with non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes.
The ultimate goal of these guidelines is to help patients and healthcare providers in Central and Eastern Europe make optimal use of SMBG to maximise the efficacy and safety of glucose-lowering therapies, prevent complications and empower the patients to play a more active role in the management of their diabetes.