The validity of monitoring the control of diabetes with random blood glucose testing
Date
2013
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Medpharm Publications
Abstract
It is important to decide if a patient with diabetes has good glycaemic control in order to guide treatment and to offer behaviour change counselling. Currently, determining random blood glucose (RBG) is usually carried out in primary care in the public sector to make this decision. This study investigates the validity of these decisions. Retrospective data from a district hospital setting were used to analyse the correlation between glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and RBG, the best predictive value of RBG, and its predictive properties. The best value of RBG to predict control (HbA1c ≤ 7%) was 9.8 mmol/l. However, this threshold only gave a sensitivity of 77% and a specificity of 75%. Clinicians would be wrong 23% of the time when using RBG to determine glycaemic control. Attempts should be made to make HbA1c more available for clinical decision-making. Point-of-care testing for HbA1c should be considered.
Description
CITATION: Daramola, O. F. & Mash, B. 2013. The validity of monitoring the control of diabetes with random blood glucose testing. South African Family Practice, 55(6):579-580.
The original publication is available at http://www.safpj.co.za
The original publication is available at http://www.safpj.co.za
Keywords
Diabetes -- South Africa, Non-insulin-dependent diabetes, Blood sugar monitoring
Citation
Daramola, O. F. & Mash, B. 2013. The validity of monitoring the control of diabetes with random blood glucose testing. South African Family Practice, 55(6):579-580.