Infection Prevention during Blood Glucose Monitoring and Insulin Administration

Diabetes Care Resources

Summary

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has become increasingly concerned about the risks for transmitting hepatitis B virus (HBV) and other infectious diseases during assisted blood glucose (blood sugar) monitoring and insulin administration.

CDC is alerting all persons who assist others with blood glucose monitoring and/or insulin administration of the following infection control requirements:

Fingerstick devices should never be used for more than one person
Whenever possible, blood glucose meters should not be shared. If they must be shared, the device should be cleaned and disinfected after every use, per manufacturer’s instructions. If the manufacturer does not specify how the device should be cleaned and disinfected then it should not be shared.
Insulin pens and other medication cartridges and syringes are for single-patient-use only and should never be used for more than one person

Top of page

Blood Glucose Monitoring and Insulin Administration

Monitoring of blood glucose levels is frequently performed to guide therapy for persons with diabetes. Blood glucose monitoring and insulin administration can be accomplished in two ways: self-monitoring of blood glucose and insulin administration, where the individual performs all steps of the testing and insulin administration themselves, and assisted monitoring of blood glucose and insulin administration, where another person assists with or performs testing and insulin administration for an individual.

Examples of settings where assisted monitoring of blood glucose and insulin administration may occur include: