Standards Might Rise on Monitors for Diabetics1

This article's focus is the common use by hospitals of glucose monitors meant only for home use-- an indefensible cost-cutting measure, I assume, since home monitors were never meant for such high-volume, accuracy-is- all applications. The article also says that accuracy is most important for insulin-dependent diabetics who are trying to keep their blood sugar levels at normal or even slightly less than normal levels. For them, an accurate meter is invaluable, even life-preserving.

IMO, for the diet and exercise controlled among us, as well as those whose only med is metformin, that 20% margin of error in home testing is not a big issue-- let's face it, the diff between 115 and 92 is not a big deal if someone's not on hypoglycemic meds. For the non-med-takers, the purpose of their testing is to make sure they're staying within a good range of levels and not seeing glucose averages going on an upward trend, for whatever reason(s). What I found surprising were the statistics the article cited about the high incidence of diabetic shock experienced by those who take insulin. It said that insulin takers slip into unconsciousness on an average of one time a year (what?), and that 40% of all insulin takers will suffer seizures or coma at least once in their lifetimes! Wow. Obviously no one should be taking insulin without lots and lots of daily testing, with as accurate a meter as money can buy...read more