OBJECTIVES: Self-Measurement of Blood Glucose (SMBG) is an important part of good diabetes management. Guidelines suggest frequent SMBG testing (the number depending on type of diabetes treatment), but there are also limitations in some countries on the maximum number of reimbursed strips per month. Each SMBG strip costs approximately 0.5€. Limited information on frequency of SMBG exists, although it accounts for a considerable proportion of diabetes management costs. METHODS: Data were drawn from the 2012 Adelphi Diabetes Disease Specific Programme, a cross-sectional survey involving 374 primary care physicians and 256 specialists across Europe. Doctors completed patient record forms for 7528 consulting patients, 4839 of whom  independently completed a self-completion questionnaire. SMBG testing frequency was analysed separately for type-1 (T1) and type-2 (T2) diabetics and type of treatment (non-insulins, basal-only treatment (BOT), basal-bolus (BB) and other insulins). RESULTS: Proportion of patient-reported SMBG, T1 93.7%, T2 BOT 81.0%,T2 BB 88.7%. Physicians reported similar proportions of  patients measuring their own glucose (T1 94.8%, T2 BOT 79.8% and T2 BB 90.3%). Physician recommended SMBG testing between (mean) 31.5 (T2 non-insulins) and 92.4 (T1) tests per month with 48.7 for T2 BOT, 81.0 for T2 BB users. The actual mean number of patient-reported SMBG tests per month is between 28.8 (T2 non-insulins) and 94.1 (T1), with 43.4 for T2 BOT, 83.5 for T2 BB.There is thus high consistency between patient and physician responses on proportion of patients performing SMBG and frequency of testing per month. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes patients appear to accurately follow the SMBG recommendation from their physician. Insulin-treated diabetes is associated with frequent SMBG testing, and testing frequency increases with number of daily insulin injections. Treatment and technologies that can reduce the need for SMBG without compromising overall diabetes management could help to reduce overall diabetes management costs.