Glucose Meter Use in the Intensive Care Unit: Much Ado About Something

Glucose meters are a fast and convenient way to measure circulating blood glucose. Like many technologies in healthcare, the use of glucose meters within the hospital has evolved significantly over the last few decades. This change has been driven predominantly by changes in the approach to glycemic control for critically ill patients. Both glycemic control in the intensive care unit (ICU), and use of glucose meters to manage insulin dosing during glycemic control, are likely to remain controversial topics in the years to come. This review will elaborate on the evidence for and against use of glucose meters in the ICU to monitor glucose concentrations during glycemic control, and provide some tips for point of care programs on how to evaluate glucose monitors for this purpose.