Choosing Wisely – Self-monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG)

The document outlines recommendations for managing Type 2 diabetes, emphasizing the limited benefits and potential harms of daily home glucose monitoring for patients not using insulin. It reviews evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses, highlighting that such monitoring may lead to small, clinically insignificant improvements in glucose control and can negatively impact patients by creating undue burden and distracting from more critical cardiovascular risk management. It also notes the economic implications of unnecessary testing, suggesting a more targeted use of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in specific patient scenarios.