Objective: Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is a fairly efficient method of preventing hypoglycaemia in diabetic patients. Blood glucose meters (BGMs) are influenced by factors such as altitude, temperature, blood oxygen concentration, low atmospheric pressure or humidity. In this study we aimed at evaluating the performance of glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) or glucose oxidase (GOX) based glucometers at moderately high altitude.
Method: A total of 286 female or male patients, most of whom had type 2 diabetes, were included in this study. The simultaneous readings made by two different glucometers were compared with the readings made at the reference laboratory.
Results: Blood glucose levels measured by a GDH based glucometer at moderately high altitude were significantly (p=0.007) higher compared to those measured at the reference laboratory. Although blood glucose levels measured by a GOX based glucometer were lower compared to those measured at the reference laboratory, the difference was not significant (p=0.54). The difference between GOX and GDH readings with regard to blood glucose levels was also significant (p=0.001). Blood glucometers were influenced by moderately high altitude.
Conclusion: The use of a GOX based glucometer at moderately high altitude may be useful in detecting hypoglycaemia at these conditions, since significantly higher blood glucose levels were measured with a GDH based glucometer compared to reference readings.