lreddick

Where to start? I work in a jail, the glucometer belongs to the facility and I have one that I carry in my backpack, as I am hypoglycemic. The 26 reading scared the bejesus out of me, I administered the glucose gel without a doctor's order because I couldn't leave her for that long. She is not diabetic, but claims to be hypoglycemic. The parient takes her blood sugar and we get the glucometer back. The next day the nurse caught her pooling alcohol in the crease of her finger, getting a little blood in the alcohol and taking her reading. We have new orders to take her blood sugar ourselves and her readings are perfect. Yes, I was had. I really struggle to not be a hardened nurse but it is hard with this population.

Is it possible to manipulate a glucometer to get low blood sugar levels? I had a patient last night that showed a reading of 26. I calibrated the glucometer before med pass, had her take her reading twice (both matched) and checked my reading on the facility glucometer against mine. After administration of glucose gel, her blood sugar went to 86, so she was fine. When I got to work tonight, I was told by another nurse that she manipulated the glucometer to get a low reading so she could have a snack in the evening. So, is it possible that she pulled one over on me and how?