OBJECTIVES: Utilization of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HbA1c and SMBG are considered core components of diabetes therapy. They support a safe and effective drug therapy and they provide feedback on the quality of glycemic control. In 2011 a Chinese guideline on SMBG was published. SMBG, in contrast to most diabetes drugs, is not reimbursed in China. This study aims to assess the level of SMBG usage with patients on different diabetes therapies in community health centers (primary care). METHODS: In 2012 a survey was conducted in community health centers in 6 districts of Shanghai. 935 random diabetes cases were documented in a standardized format. Subsequent explorative analysis were performed. SMBG usage was analyzed by therapy-subgroups: oral diabetes therapy only (OAD 84%), any therapy involving insulin (INSULIN 14%) and OTHERS (2%). RESULTS: 99% were patients with type 2 diabetes. FPG levels were available for 86% and 89% in OAD / INSULIN respectively, HbA1c levels were available for 32.0% and 19.4% respectively. For 124 patients (13.3%) SMBG usage was reported, for 111 of them actual test frequencies were available. Shares of testers by therapies (OAD / INSULIN) were 10.0% and 21.8%. Physicians recommended an average of 5.9 tests per week, patients performed 2.8 (47.5%). For OAD / INSULIN test-frequencies were 2.8 and 2.2. Doctors rated the SMBG adherence as good or very good in 43% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: In community centers the vast majority of patients have type 2 diabetes. FPG values were broadly documented, but the therapy quality marker HbA1 is only available for the minority of patients. SMBG  was more common with insulin users, but clearly below guideline recommendations. It needs to be determined which measures could potentially improve the current practice in diabetes care in order to strengthen the role of community health centers in managing the diabetes epidemic in China.