Glucose Meters: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow?

Objective: This special article will review the history of blood glucose meter hospital use and current issues surrounding their use in this patient population. Study Selection: Secondary to accuracy concerns that have been known, but likely underappreciated for many years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are moving toward eliminating current blood glucose meters for use with critically ill patients. Data Sources: Recent guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services along with several recent publications will be used as the primary data sources. Data Extraction: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services communications combined with recent interpretation of this guidance were used to provide this overview. Data Synthesis: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have issued a temporary moratorium on the prohibition of the use of blood glucose meters in the critically ill. They have not given a deadline for the moratorium or solicited comments. Conclusions: Physicians who care for critically ill patients need to be cognizant of the accuracy and interference limitations of blood glucose meters and aware of the current regulatory situation.