THE AMOUNT OF MEDICATION IN DIABETES-MELL ITUS .4. THE USE OF REACTIVE MATERIAL AND SYSTEMS TO ASSESS THE CONTROL OF GLUCOSE IN PRIMARY HEALTH-CARE

BACKGROUND: A study was performed to analyze the use of reactive mater ial in the periodic follow up of diabetes. Likewise, the use of system s to assess glycemic control by primary care physicians was investigat ed. METHODS: Analysis of the habits of use of reactive material was pe rformed on the diabetic population of Tarragona (548,900 inhabitants) by randomized survey of prescription in 525 patients attended in 12 pr imary care centers. The estimation of amount was carried out by a coun ting of the public prescriptions made. Similarly the periodicity and t he results of the applications of glucoproteins in the reference labor atories were studied. RESULTS: A total of 253 diabetics (48 %) were ex clusively attended in the centers and 272 (52 %) performed some type o f home self-analysis; 26 (5 %) in urine samples, and 246 (47 %) in cap illary blood. The estimated mean consumption was of 14 blood sugar str ips per patient per month (168 strips/year) and 2.7 glucosuria-glucoce tonuria strips (32.4 strips/year). The relative urine/blood ratio was 1/5.2. In 343 cam (65 %) some glucoprotein measurement was reported wi thin the last year, 330 (63 %) corresponding to glucohemoglobin A1. Th e mean value was 8.3 % (normal: 5-8 %). The mean number of application s was 1.6 applications per patient per year. CONCLUSIONS: An enormous increase was observed in the amount consumed at the province of reacti ve material in blood and in the measurement of glucoproteins as the sy stem to carbohydrate control in diabetes. A significant reduction was found in the use of reactive strips in urine by the diabetic populatio n.