Practice of Glycemic Self-Monitoring in Diabetic Patients Followed at the Endocrinology Department of Donka University Hospital in Guinea

Diabetes is a chronic pathology whose evolution is marked by micro and macroangiopathic complications. Optimal management can prevent the onset of complications and improve patients’ quality of life. Objectives: To determine the frequency of self-monitoring of blood glucose and to describe the errors found during self-monitoring in diabetic patients followed at the Endocrinology Department of Donka University Hospital in Guinea. Materials and methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study carried out between August and September 2020 involving diabetic patients followed up at the Endocrinology and Diabetology Department of the Donka National Hospital, CHU Conakry. Results: A total of 301 patients were enrolled, with an average age of 44.24 ± 21.01 years. 64.12% were female. Type 2 diabetes predominated in 64% of cases. The mean duration of diabetes was 6.14 ± 4.67 years, and 75.08% of patients lived in urban areas. Patients were on insulin in 36.21% of cases, insulin and biguanides (26.25%), hypoglycemic sulfonamide and biguanides (19.27%) and biguanides in 18.27% of cases. The frequency of self-monitoring of blood glucose was 43%, and 38% of patients made errors, notably reusing lancets (60%), not checking the expiration date (55.65%) and not washing their hands (48%). Conclusion: This study shows that self-monitoring of blood glucose is not performed by the majority of patients. Numerous errors were identified during blood glucose testing. Continued therapeutic education on the use of blood glucose meters will help empower patients and improve their quality of life.