Monitoring blood sugar
NHS forks out every year to help diabetics monitor their own blood sugar is a waste of money and unlikely to confer any health benefits, suggest the results of two studies. If anything it is more likely to depress patients than provide any long term health benefits, conclude the researchers. Self monitoring does help patients with type 1 diabetes and those with type 2 diabetes who use insulin to control their condition, say the authors. Efficacy of self monitoring of blood glucose in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (ESMON study): randomised controlled trial. BMJ, doi:10.1136/bmj.39534.571644.BE (published 17 April 2008), Cost effectiveness of self monitoring of blood glucose in patients with non-insulin treated type 2 diabetes: economic evaluation of data from the DiGEM trial. BMJ, doi:10.1136/bmj.39526.674873.BE (published 17 April 2008). [Story at OnMedica: Full text at BMJ and BMJ.]
April 12, 2008 Researchers say that eating too many eggs can be bad for diabetic men. U.S. researchers revealed Wednesday that more than 6 eggs in a week increases a person’s risk of death. And that was especially true of diabetic men, who seem to face an increased risk of death. Egg consumption in relation to cardiovascular disease and mortality: the Physicians’ Health Study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 87, No. 4, 964-969, April 2008. [Story at AHN: Abstract at AJCN; full text at AJCN, requires subscription.]
