Drs Bode and Davidson have received speaker honoraria and consulting fees from MiniMed Inc and Roche Diagnostics. MiniMed Inc. This is the second of four articles on diabetes. This page is best viewed with a browser that supports tables. The discovery of insulin in 1922 and the development of self-monitoring of blood glucose levels in 1978 mark the two greatest advances in the management of diabetes mellitus in the 20th century. As the new millennium dawns, important strides are being made in glucose monitoring that allow collection of better data to guide diabetes management.
New techniques hold promise for improved ease and accuracy.
As a result of the DCCT, self-monitoring of blood glucose levels has become the standard of care. The frequency of monitoring depends on the patient's current glycemic control. Most people with type 1 diabetes should test four or more times a day to obtain information needed to maintain near-normal levels of blood glucose. Regardless of the therapy, frequent monitoring is one of the keys to optimal glucose control. As a result, new technologies have evolved rapidly, and many new meters appear on the market annually.