Glucometers in hands of patients, general practitioners and in the intensive care units

Czech version

Authors: B. Friedecký
Authors‘ workplace: Ředitel: Ing. Marek Budina ; Přednosta: prof. MUDr. Vladimír Palička. CSc. ; SEKK Pardubice ; Ústav klinické biochemie a diagnostiky LF UK a FN Hradec Králové
Published in: Prakt. Lék. 2011; 91(10): 581-584
Category: Reviews

Overview

Glucometers (from a number of manufacturers) have been used for the routine monitoring of blood glucose by diabetic patients and their physicians for a long time. This review deals with some of the problems with their use. There is a marked difference in self-monitoring results between patients being treated by antidiabetics and those patients whose diabetes is controlled by diet only. We compared the margin of error according to standard ISO 15197 with that actual margins of error achieved in practice. The most frequent sources of errors, namely human error, are also mentioned. Briefly we mention the most controversial use of glucometers, that of monitoring critically ill patients. Lack of human competency and control procedures are the main sources of errors. Education, control and proficiency testing are necessary tools for efficiency and safety in the use of glucometers.

Key words:
glucometers, self-monitoring, errors, education, proficiency testing.

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