Dr. Michael Bergman appeared on MSNBC on July 21, 2009 to comment on the question of accuracy in the use of blood glucose meters. Dr. Bergman is Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at the NYU School of Medicine.

A recent article in the New York Times (July 19, 2009) described a comparison of several glucose meters by a teenager, Morgan Disanto Ranney, whose father has diabetes. She found considerable variation using these devices and prompted a discussion involving the FDA regarding their accuracy. Inaccuracy is of particular concern when low glucose readings are obtained and patients are confronted with vital decision making in the absence of symptoms of hypoglycemia. The FDA agreed to look into this matter to determine what additional steps manufacturers can take to improve upon the reliability of meters used by individuals with diabetes, particularly those treated with insulin. This issue was the subject of the Dr. Nancy Show on MSNBC on July 21, 2009.

The discrepancy in readings amongst various meters is known, as is the 10-20% difference between a simultaneous finger stick and laboratory determination. While limitations in accuracy are partly technological, human errors such frequency of meter cleaning, compliance with calibration, technical (e.g., adequacy and site of sampling, hand cleansing) and use of certain medications (e.g., acetaminophen) may interfere. Furthermore, given these limitations, patients should be advised to repeat measurements should there be a question especially when confronted by either exceedingly high or low readings. Healthcare providers generally rely on global or relative trend results in interpreting finger stick values when considering potential changes in treatment regimens rather than relying on specific, absolute determinations. Although the device industry has come a long way since its inception in the 1960s, further refinements in accuracy should be considered by manufacturers to improve patient safety.