Based from CPG DM Type 2 Malaysia.

1. Self Monitoring Blood Glucose
(SMBG)
By
Farah Adibah Kasmin

2. Definition
• It is the use of a glucose meter to enable a person with diabetes to
recognize glycaemic variations.
• The result provides immediate feedback regarding the impact of
patient’s lifestyle behaviour and if pharmacological interventions are
required.
(American Association of Diabetes Educators, 2014)

3. Objectives
• To improve diabetes self-management
• To provide reassurance as well as empower people with diabetes to
take control of diabetes self-management
• To optimize or intensify diabetes management either with insulin
treatment or oral glucose-lowering medications or lifestyle
adaptations
• To provide better assessment of changes of glycaemic levels resulting
from medication and lifestyle changes

4. SMBG recommendations for different therapy regimes
1. Insulin therapy
a – OAD with Bedtime insulin

5. b) Basal bolus Insulin regime
c) Twice Daily Premixed or Combination Intermediate-Acting
with Short-Acting Insulin

6. 2. OAD
This table helps as a guideline for:
- People with diabetes who are new to oral hypoglycaemic therapy
especially on the drug group of Sulphonylureas.
- People with diabetes who are undergoing dose adjustment.
- If blood glucose readings are stable and on target, SMBG can be
done up to 2-4 readings per week at varying times to identify
asymptomatic hyperglycaemia and assess glucose excursion due to
lifestyle changes from the routine.

7. 3. Diet Alone
SMBG should be done on an intermittent basis, to assess glucose excursions due
to lifestyle changes

8. SMBG in Special Situation
• More frequent SMBG is required for the following:
- People with diabetes who are at increased risk of developing
hypoglycaemia.
- People with diabetes who experience acute illness
- People with diabetes on insulin before long distance driving.
- People with diabetes who participate in vigorous exercise.
(American Diabetes Association, 2014)
- People with diabetes undergoing fasting, e.g. during Ramadan; SMBG
should be done:
* Pre Sahur (pre-dawn meal) and 2 hours post Sahur
* Pre Iftar (Sunset) and 2 hours post Iftar
(Ministry of Health Malaysia, 2010)

9. Goal setting of SMBG

11. References
• Malaysia CPG Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus 5th Edition
2015
• Diabetes Education Manual April 2016 by The Malaysian Diabetes
Educators Society