The design is an open, prospective, randomised, multicentre parallel group study. The total duration will be 5 years with patient recruitment over 4 years and an individual observation period of 1 year. 300 participants from 43 study centres, hospitals and private practices were recruited. The study will run for one year and aims to determine, whether there is an advantage with regard to HbA1c levels when (a) a regular three-monthly HbA1c or (b) a weekly 4-point glucose profile is taken and reported.