Higher accuracy of self-monitoring of blood glucose in insulin-treated patients in Germany: clinical and economical aspects. 2013

Oliver Schnell, and Michael Erbach, and Eva Wintergerst
Forschergruppe Diabetes e.V., Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich-Neuherberg, Germany. oliver.schnell@lrz.uni-muenchen.de

BACKGROUND Accuracy standards of blood glucose (BG) meters are currently under review. Revised standards are expected to tighten accuracy requirements. Regarding clinical and financial impact of BG meter accuracy, very little data are available. The aim of this study was to analyze potential cost savings related to higher accuracy of glucose meters in Germany. METHODS As a model for calculation, a reduction of meter error from 20% to 5% was applied. The health economic analysis was based on four main pillars: (1) number of insulin-treated patients; (2) costs for glucose monitoring in Germany; (3) data of a modeling analysis on the impact on hypoglycemic episodes, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and, subsequently, myocardial infarctions; and (4) costs of diabetes-related complications in Germany. A reduction of meter error from 20% to 5% was identified to be associated with a 10% reduction in severe hypoglycemic episodes and a 0.39% reduction in HbA1c, which translates into a 0.5% reduction of myocardial infarctions. RESULTS According to the health economic analysis, the reduction in severe hypoglycemic episodes and myocardial infarctions led to cost savings of €24.14 per patient per year. Considering 390,000 type 1 diabetes patients or 2.3 million insulin-treated patients in Germany, these savings could be equal to a reduction in health care expenditures of more than €9.4 million and €55.5 million, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Potential cost savings and clinical effects due to higher accuracy of BG meters should provide an impetus to implementation of tighter accuracy standards and development of glucose meters that provide highest possible accuracy.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007328 Insulin A 51-amino acid pancreatic hormone that plays a major role in the regulation of glucose metabolism, directly by suppressing endogenous glucose production (GLYCOGENOLYSIS; GLUCONEOGENESIS) and indirectly by suppressing GLUCAGON secretion and LIPOLYSIS. Native insulin is a globular protein comprised of a zinc-coordinated hexamer. Each insulin monomer containing two chains, A (21 residues) and B (30 residues), linked by two disulfide bonds. Insulin is used as a drug to control insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 1). Iletin,Insulin A Chain,Insulin B Chain,Insulin, Regular,Novolin,Sodium Insulin,Soluble Insulin,Chain, Insulin B,Insulin, Sodium,Insulin, Soluble,Regular Insulin
D008297 Male Males
D001786 Blood Glucose Glucose in blood. Blood Sugar,Glucose, Blood,Sugar, Blood
D003922 Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 A subtype of DIABETES MELLITUS that is characterized by INSULIN deficiency. It is manifested by the sudden onset of severe HYPERGLYCEMIA, rapid progression to DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS, and DEATH unless treated with insulin. The disease may occur at any age, but is most common in childhood or adolescence. Diabetes Mellitus, Brittle,Diabetes Mellitus, Insulin-Dependent,Diabetes Mellitus, Juvenile-Onset,Diabetes Mellitus, Ketosis-Prone,Diabetes Mellitus, Sudden-Onset,Diabetes, Autoimmune,IDDM,Autoimmune Diabetes,Diabetes Mellitus, Insulin-Dependent, 1,Diabetes Mellitus, Type I,Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus 1,Juvenile-Onset Diabetes,Type 1 Diabetes,Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus,Brittle Diabetes Mellitus,Diabetes Mellitus, Insulin Dependent,Diabetes Mellitus, Juvenile Onset,Diabetes Mellitus, Ketosis Prone,Diabetes Mellitus, Sudden Onset,Diabetes, Juvenile-Onset,Diabetes, Type 1,Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus 1,Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus,Juvenile Onset Diabetes,Juvenile-Onset Diabetes Mellitus,Ketosis-Prone Diabetes Mellitus,Sudden-Onset Diabetes Mellitus
D005260 Female Females
D005858 Germany A country in central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark. The capital is Berlin.
D006760 Hospitalization The confinement of a patient in a hospital. Hospitalizations
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012680 Sensitivity and Specificity Binary classification measures to assess test results. Sensitivity or recall rate is the proportion of true positives. Specificity is the probability of correctly determining the absence of a condition. (From Last, Dictionary of Epidemiology, 2d ed) Specificity,Sensitivity,Specificity and Sensitivity
D015190 Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring Self evaluation of whole blood glucose levels outside the clinical laboratory. A digital or battery-operated reflectance meter may be used. It has wide application in controlling unstable insulin-dependent diabetes. Blood Sugar Self-Monitoring,Home Blood Glucose Monitoring,Monitoring, Home Blood Glucose,Self-Monitoring, Blood Glucose,Glucose, Blood, Self Monitoring,Glucose, Blood, Self-Monitoring,Blood Glucose Self Monitoring,Blood Glucose Self-Monitorings,Blood Sugar Self Monitoring,Blood Sugar Self-Monitorings,Glucose Self-Monitoring, Blood,Glucose Self-Monitorings, Blood,Self Monitoring, Blood Glucose,Self-Monitoring, Blood Sugar,Self-Monitorings, Blood Glucose,Self-Monitorings, Blood Sugar,Sugar Self-Monitoring, Blood,Sugar Self-Monitorings, Blood

Related Publications

Oliver Schnell, and Michael Erbach, and Eva Wintergerst
January 1991, Diabete & metabolisme,
Oliver Schnell, and Michael Erbach, and Eva Wintergerst
November 1985, Archives of internal medicine,
Oliver Schnell, and Michael Erbach, and Eva Wintergerst
February 2018, Diabetes & metabolism journal,
Oliver Schnell, and Michael Erbach, and Eva Wintergerst
May 2010, Medicina clinica,
Oliver Schnell, and Michael Erbach, and Eva Wintergerst
January 2018, BMJ open diabetes research & care,
Oliver Schnell, and Michael Erbach, and Eva Wintergerst
January 1987, Diabetes care,
Oliver Schnell, and Michael Erbach, and Eva Wintergerst
March 2010, Journal of diabetes science and technology,
Oliver Schnell, and Michael Erbach, and Eva Wintergerst
May 2019, Journal of diabetes investigation,
Oliver Schnell, and Michael Erbach, and Eva Wintergerst
September 2013, Journal of diabetes investigation,
Oliver Schnell, and Michael Erbach, and Eva Wintergerst
May 2015, Endocrinologia y nutricion : organo de la Sociedad Espanola de Endocrinologia y Nutricion,
Copied contents to your clipboard!