Glycemic control and self-monitoring of blood glucose in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes on insulin: Baseline results from the COMPASS study

- Overall poor level of glycemic control (mean HbA1c 8.48%).
- Low utilization of self-monitoring blood glucose in insulin-treated Chinese type 2 diabetics.
- Approximately two-thirds of patients report irregular self-monitoring of blood glucose.
- Most patients occasionally, rarely or never follow self-monitoring blood glucose instructions.

AimsSelf monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is not widely utilized in insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes. In this analysis, we evaluated the current state of SMBG in Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin.MethodsThe 2-phase COMPASS study involved 24 centers across 10 provinces and cities in China. In the first phase, a cross sectional survey was carried out in type 2 diabetes patients receiving insulin treatment. The inclusion criteria for the study subjects in the first phase were: type 2 diabetes, insulin treatment for ≥3 months, and age ≥18 years. Evaluation was made on the status of SMBG and insulin therapy in these patients by a questionnaire.ResultsA total of 2819 patients (age 58.2 ± 10.8 years; 49.6% females; BMI 24.6 ± 3.4 kg/m2) with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes were recruited in phase I of this study. The majority of patients (80.4%) were receiving insulin treatment for at least 6 months. At baseline, the mean HbA1c was 8.5 ± 1.9% and 54.6% of patients had an HbA1c above 8%. 50.4% of the cohort had diabetes for at least 10 years, and fewer of these patients achieved HbA1c <7.0% (53 mmol/mol). At baseline, 65.8% of patients reported that daily SMBG frequency was performed on a random basis. 59.2% of patients reported that they occasionally, rarely or never follow their physician's instructions regarding SMBG. Hypoglycemia occurred in over 50% of patients, although in 71.8% of patients this was a rare occurrence.ConclusionsThere is low utilization of SMBG in Chinese adults with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes, with approximately two-thirds of patients reporting irregular use of SMBG. This is in line with an overall poor level of glycemic control.