Edinburgh Napier University

  Glycaemic control is often assessed using a random blood glucose measurement in patlents attending for diabetes review in specialist clinics. This measurement is susceptible to manipulation by patients and the aim of this study was to determine the extent to which patients modify their behaviour to influence their random blood glucose measured at the review clinic. Four hundred and ninety eight patients attending the Diabetes Review Clinic of the Royal Infirmary were asked to complete a questionnaire about any self-imposed dietary changes or alteration of medication which they observed prior to attending for review. One third of all patients admitted to either eating less for a few days before attending the clinic, reducing caloric intake on the day of the review or altering the doses of their hypoglycaemic agents. Random blood glucose monitoring in the setting of an outpatient review clinic may therefore be of limited value in assessing glycaemic control.