Ottawa, Ontario – Routine self-monitoring of blood glucose levels by people with type 2 diabetes who are not taking insulin may not improve their health and may be an inefficient use of health care resources, according to a new article by the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) published today in CMAJ/JAMC, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
The article, “Cost-Effectiveness of Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Managed Without Insulin,” suggests that the modest clinical benefits associated with self-monitoring by non–insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes are outweighed by the significant cost of the test strips. In 2006, Canadian publicly and privately funded drug plans spent more than $330 million on test strips. It is estimated that more than 50% of all the money spent on test strips is for patients with type 2 diabetes who are not using insulin.
“Nevertheless, self-monitoring of blood glucose is routinely recommended for patients who are not using insulin. This results in major investments in this technology by patients and payers,” writes Chris Cameron, Health Economist at CADTH and co-author of the article.
An article from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences entitled “Blood glucose test strips: options to reduce usage” is also published in the same issue of CMAJ/JAMC. This article examines how even modest changes in the frequency of self-monitoring of blood glucose among selected patients with type 2 diabetes, achieved through focused policy decisions, could substantially reduce test strip use.
CADTH's CMAJ article is based on extensive research on the practice of self-monitoring of blood glucose by people living with diabetes. Following a detailed analysis of the benefits, harms, and cost-effectiveness of self-monitoring, CADTH released Optimal Therapy Recommendations for the Prescribing and Use of Blood Glucose Test Strips in July 2009. The recommendations were developed by an expert committee that includes leading diabetes specialists, family physicians, pharmacists, health economists, and members of the public.
To access these recommendations and the supporting evidence, visit www.cadth.ca/smbg. In January 2010, a variety of user-friendly tools will also be posted on the website. These tools are designed to help consumers, health care professionals, and policy decision-makers put evidence about self-monitoring of blood glucose into practice.
About CADTH
The Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) is an independent, not-for-profit agency funded by Canadian federal, provincial, and territorial governments to provide credible, impartial advice and evidence-based information about the effectiveness of drugs and other health technologies to Canadian health care decision-makers.
Media Contact:
Janet Crain
A/Manager, Knowledge Exchange
613-226-4969, extension 1487
Cell: 613-294-2897
janetc@cadth.ca