Evaluation of two methods of self blood glucose monitoring by trained insulin-dependent diabetic adolescents outside the hospital.

We studied the accuracy of the Chemstrip bG and Glucometer systems in the self-monitoring of blood glucose by trained adolescents. The determinations were done at home with simultaneous collection of whole blood into capillary tubes (Sarstedt) which were later analyzed by a glucose-oxidase analyzer (Beckman Instruments). In both cases, there was an excellent correlation between laboratory concentrations and Chemstrip bG (r = 0.96, P less than 0.001) and Glucometer (r = 0.96, P less than 0.001). Comparisons made at 8 mo remained with the same degree of accuracy. There was a trend toward greater deviation with higher plasma glucose values. Well-trained patients can achieve sufficient accuracy to permit the use of either of the methods tested with similar results.