Effect of Different Glucose Meter Error Tolerances on Dosing Errors During Intravenous Insulin Administration

Analytical and Clinical Performance of Blood Glucose Monitors

“…30 The other study focused on intravenous insulin therapy in critically ill patients and used a sample of 29,920 glucose values to simulate glucose values with error. 31 In the simulation, when 10, 15, or 20% total error was modeled, one category insulin errors occurred with 39, 46, or 46% of simulated glucose values and two category insulin errors occurred with 3, 9, or 16% of simulated glucose values. 31 The study concluded that permitting a 10% total error in glucose measurement would result in safer management of patients on intravenous insulin therapy.…”

“…Two articles reported the use of simulation to investigate insulin dosing errors. 30,31 One study calculated that insulin dosage errors would occur 8 to 23% of the time in a meter with a total analytical error of 5%. 30 Insulin dosage errors also were calculated to occur 16 to 45% of the time in a meter with a total analytical error of 10%.…”

“…31 The study concluded that permitting a 10% total error in glucose measurement would result in safer management of patients on intravenous insulin therapy. 31…”

Regulatory Controversies Surround Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices

“…15 A meeting abstract has also reported modeled outcomes with intravenous insulin dosing. 16 These studies all demonstrated that insulin dosing errors occurred with greater frequency and magnitude with increasing monitor error. No empiric outcome data exist comparing glucose monitors with greater and lesser levels of accuracy.…”