Recent advances in self-monitoring of blood glucose

Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is one of the greatest advances in the management of diabetes mellitus. Together with developments in pharmacology and technology, SMBG instantly measures glycemic control and allows patients to take immediate action to adjust insulin doses accordingly. This method of blood glucose monitoring has led to multiple clinical trials demonstrating the importance of glucose control using SMBG in diabetes outcome. Recent improvements in traditional SMBG technology have produced monitoring systems that are faster, more accurate, and more practical for patients to monitor frequently. Continuous glucose sensing systems and noninvasive sensing show promise in allowing more effective detection of both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia and reducing long-term complications associated with diabetes.