EFFECTS OF PRESSURE ON WHOLE-BLOOD GLUCOSE MEASUREMENTS USING THE BAYER GLUCOMETER-4 BLOOD-GLUCOSE METER

The effect of pressure was investigated on the readings of whole blood glucose obtained from the Bayer Glucometer 4 blood glucose meter whic h uses the hexokinase enzymatic reaction. Sixteen subjects (eight norm al and eight insulin-dependent diabetics) were exercised in a hyperbar ic chamber at a depth of 3.7 atm abs. Venous blood samples were monito red at regular intervals for whole blood glucose concentration as meas ured by a Glucometer 4 inside the chamber. The blood samples were imme diately placed in an airlock and taken to 1 atm abs, where whole blood glucose concentrations were measured using an identical instrument. T he remaining blood was then analyzed in duplicate for serum glucose co ncentration using standard laboratory methods. The results show a sign ificant difference between whole blood glucose concentrations measured at pressure and those measured at atmospheric pressure. Significant d ifferences are also observed between whole blood glucose concentration s measured under pressure and serum blood glucose concentrations measu red at atmospheric pressure.