Standardization and recommendations for the appropriate use of automated devices for self-monitoring blood glucose

摘要

The effectiveness of the self-monitoring of blood glucose(SMBG) for the management of diabetic patients has widely been accepted, and many improvements in the devices to meet the demands of lay users have been made, yet no standardization has been performed in Japan. Expert committees of the Japan Society of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Laboratory Automation and the Japan Diabetes Society made, in cooperation, a report on the characteristics of the devices and the present status of technical performance evaluation in April, 2001. This paper is based mainly on the committee's report and refers to the future trials being prepared by the committee to achieve standardization of the devices. The importance of technical assistance by trained healthcare professionals in applying the devices for the treatment of diabetic patients and the appropriate frequency of SMBG for good glycemic control are also mentioned.