It's no secret that many people with diabetes fall short when it comes to monitoring their blood glucose levels. Now a professor at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center has done a survey to find out why. Here are his findings, based on the 1,895 people who answered his questionnaire:

• People varied widely in their understanding of how often they should monitor.
• People often monitored glucose levels fewer times/day than recommended.
• People who had had diabetes longer were more likely to monitor more often.

The survey identified these reasons for not testing as often as recommended:

• Finger soreness - 492 respondents
• Pain - 428
• Inconvenience - 347
• Fear of needles - 117

Importantly, the survey was also able to establish a connection between poor monitoring habits and health status: those who tested less had more hospitalizations and more visits to the doctor than those who tested more often.

Related information Glucose monitoring | Meter selection