[Evaluation of the effectiveness of metabolic self-control through direct dispensation of diagnostic strips to type 2 diabetic patients].

To perform an evaluation of the effectiveness of diagnostic strips in metabolic control by type 2 diabetics. A crossover, observational study. Primary Health Care. A sample of 400 histories at a Primary Care Centre (PCC), representative of Diabetes 2 patients who used reactive strips directly dispensed at PCCs as a method of home self-analysis of their disease, was evaluated. They were monitored in 1995 and 1996 in the seven health districts in the Primary Care region of Tortosa. The use of reactive strips was considered effective if the data recorded in the PCC histories satisfied the criteria for acceptable metabolic control, as defined by the GEDAPS, for the previous year of monitoring, or for at least three months if the period of use of the strips was under a year. Mean annual cost and consumption per diabetic, and the evolution of these over the study period, were calculated. Direct dispensing of reactive strips led to an important annual increase in cost (+46.59%) and consumption (+89.25%), but acceptable effectiveness was not demonstrated (1.10%).