AbstractThe effectiveness of home glucose monltoring (HGM) was assessed In patients over the age of 40 years with dlabetes. Results were obtalned from 158 patients who were seen consecutlvely in the clinic. Of Insulin‐treated patients, 78.0% performed self‐monitorlng of blood glucose (SMBG), whlist 76.3% of non‐insulin‐treated patients performed urlne testing alone at home. Only 5.6% of patients failed to undertake any HGM and these were all non‐insulin‐treated patients. Insulin‐treated patients performing SMBG did not have an improved HbA1compared with those doing urine tests alone (SMBG 10.3±1.8%, Urine 9.9±1.8%). only 26.6% of patients performing SMBG felt confident to change their own insulin regimens. Patients performing urine tests seemed generally more satisfied with their HGM (91. 5%) than those performing urine blood tests (63.0% p<6;0.01). In summary, virtually all patients performed some form of HGM, the majority being those on insulin who were attempting SMBG. With SMBG there was no improvement in glycaemic control, few patients changed their own insulin and many patlents would have preferred urine testing alone. Patients should be carefulty selected