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By Martha Kerr
ORLANDO, Mar 23 (Reuters Health) - Using a device similar to that used by diabetics to monitor their blood sugar levels, patients can check their own cholesterol levels and effectively lower the levels over time. The results of a new study suggest that this type of self-monitoring may help reduce cholesterol, a known risk factor for heart disease.
In their study, researchers led by Dr. Johannes Schaar of the University of Essen, in Germany examined the blood cholesterol levels of 135 heart disease patients with a history of high cholesterol.
All the patients received cholesterol-lowering statin drugs plus counseling on how to lower their cholesterol with diet and exercise. On top of this, half of the participants also received a device with which they could self-monitor their blood cholesterol levels every two weeks.
At the beginning of the study, blood cholesterol levels averaged 250 milligrams (mg) per deciliter of blood for all patients.
The researchers report that, 6 months later, cholesterol levels averaged 155 mg for patients in the device group--a full 15 mg below the average 170 mg achieved by patients without the device.
They conclude that "(cholesterol) self-management leads to a further decrease of cholesterol" in addition to that achieved through changes in diet and exercise, and recommend the approach for improving cholesterol levels in heart disease patients.
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