Diabetes Mellitus: Lipids

 

General Background
Over the past 20 years, there has been a slow steady progression in glucose monitoring.  Not to long ago, it was standard practice for patients and physicians to follow urine glucose levels.  Luckily this is no longer the case.  There is little correlation between urine and plasma glucose levels. (you can see this data by clicking here.)

In the early 1980's, home glucose monitoring was available.  The tests took several minutes, large drops of blood and the glucose strips needed to be wiped off and washed off with water!  By the end of the 1980's, the water and wiping was gone and the time was down to <45 seconds. 

Some of the current glucose monitors use extremely small drops of blood, allow for the sample to come from the forearm, and take less than 4 seconds. 

Use of glucose monitors to follow the glucoses of hospitalized diabetic patients lagged behind the use in the outpatient arena, but now is universally accepted.