09/09/09 Experts are urging people with diabetes who also take an arthritis drug, or who require dialysis, to double check the blood glucose meter that they’re using.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says some medications and kidney dialysis solutions can dangerously interfere with a certain kind of blood sugar meter, an interaction that can lead to coma and even death.
Testing strips that use the technology known as GDH-PQQ, which stands for glucose dehydrogenase pyrroloquinoline quinone, will react to certain non-glucose sugars, including maltose, galactose and xylose, and produce a falsely high blood sugar reading.
If a person with diabetes then takes more insulin to get the falsely high blood sugar down, it could lead to abnormally low blood sugar, known as hypoglycemia, coma or even death.
That can be a problem for people who get regular infusions of abatacept (Orencia), which contains a non-glucose sugar as an inactive ingredient.
People who need regular peritoneal dialysis treatments are also at risk because dialysis solution contains a non-glucose sugar.
The FDA’s Web site has a full list of all the brands that use GDH-PQQ technology, which are used both in hospitals and at home.
Despite repeated warnings about this interaction, the agency says serious adverse events with these kinds of meters continue.
“We haven’t seen a decrease in the rate of deaths, even after all the notifications we've done over the years. So we felt like we needed to escalate the message a bit,” says Courtney Harper, PhD, the acting director of division of chemistry and toxicology devices at the FDA in White Oak, Md.
Since 1997, the FDA has received 13 reports of death associated with GDH-PQQ glucose test strips – eight of those deaths have been in the last year.
All of the deaths occurred in health-care facilities, and in each, there was interference from maltose or other non-glucose sugars. In some cases patients had serious injury before dying – like hypoglycemia, confusion, brain damage and coma.
“The people who use the drug at home often already know about this issue,” Harper says. “But if one of them is hospitalized and hospital staff isn’t aware they are using these drugs, they may use the hospital meters and that’s where the deaths have occurred,” she adds.
The FDA says there’s an additional danger if a person’s blood glucose is actually low because it could go unrecognized and untreated since the test result could read higher than it actually is and appear to be in the normal range.
Symptoms of low blood sugar include confusion, hunger, dizziness or tunnel or darkened vision.
“If your test results do not reflect the way you feel, be aware and call your health-care provider,” Harper says.
Several companies, including Roche Holding AG, Abbott Laboratories and Home Diagnostics Inc., manufacture the glucose test strips in question.
Harper says the FDA is working with manufacturers to resolve the problems and understand how widespread they are.
The agency is also encouraging consumers to report any adverse reactions to glucose meters or glucose tests by calling the MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program at 800/332-1088, faxing 800/FDA-0178 or sending the postage-paid FDA form 3500 to MedWatch, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787.
This article is NOT about testing your blood sugar if you have arthritis without diabetes- it is specifically a warning that some arthritis medications (and some meds for other conditions) may give incorrect readings on some blood glucose meters using a specific technology.
This is extremely dangerous to diabetics with arthritis, because we rely on our blood glucose meter results to calculate some of our diabetes medications, how much and what we eat, and even what activities we are doing (such as when it's safe to drive).
Here's a link to the specific list of meters and strips that use the technology that is not compatible with certain meds:
http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/PublicHealthNotif ications/ucm176992.htm#attachment
So if you read somewhere else that you should check your blood sugar if you just have arthritis and not diabetes (or pre-diabetes, etc) then you might want to consult this list before making such a purchase...
Hope this helps, I just found the comments seemed to make it sound like all people with arthritis should check their blood sugar too (even if they don't have diabetes or a glucose metabolism issue) which seems odd to me (as a lay person, but also one living with Type 1 diabetes for 17 years and RA for ? years, but only dx recently)....
Gentle hugs all around!
My advice is to get a glucose meter. they really help.
Also, you should get a glucose meter for arthritis if you have these symptoms...
-blurred vision
-unusual thrist a lot
-rapid change in hunger (not eating)
-tired and having headaches
-feeling nausia (but not actually puking)
-bad joint problems (from arthritis) but more severe then usual)
-dizziness
If you have at least 2 or more of these syptoms, you are a victim of having too much sugar and taking medicine (especially naproxen 500-650mg.) and hurrophene). If these occur, you should go and buy a glucose meter immediatly, and talk to your docter.
Use the meter for a few days. IF these syptoms go away, keep the meter and use it whenever naproxen is taken, and before main meals like breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinners.
TRUST ME IT WORKS>>>>>>
If the glucose meter does not help stop these syptoms, see a doctor immediatly, and stop taking medication until further notice.
Getting glucose meters are important because it can help track sugars for your inflammation, pain, and medication (especially hurrophene, justanes, and naproxen) and can be dangerous if overdosed with too much sugar.
BUY A GLUCOSE METER FOR ARTHRITIS!!
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