COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF GLYCEMIC MONITORING FROM CAPILLARY AND VENOUS BLOOD IN ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS WITH DIABETES AT THE NURSING HOME "PODGORICA": THERAPY, COMPLICATIONS, AND CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Keywords:
diabetes mellitus, glycemic monitoring, health sciences, elderly individuals, capillary and venous glucoseAbstract
The aim of this study is to compare glucose measurements from capillary and venous blood in residents of the Nursing Home "Podgorica" with diabetes, and to analyze the implications of these findings for therapeutic decisions and complication prevention.
Methodology: The study included 56 participants: 17 from the geriatrics department, 17 from the palliative care and geriatrics department, 16 from the palliative care department, and 5 from the dementia ward. Sampling was conducted daily at 7 a.m. during the period from March 7 to March 17, 2025. Sample reception at the laboratory took place between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., and validation was carried out between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Capillary blood glucose levels were measured using the Element® self-monitoring blood glucose system.
Results: Analysis by type of therapy showed that the largest differences between capillary and venous glucose levels were observed in users receiving insulin (average difference: 1.77 ± 2.29 mmol/L), while the smallest differences were recorded in those on combination therapy (0.75 ± 0.72 mmol/L). Users on oral therapy had an average difference of 1.09 mmol/L. These findings suggest that the type of therapy may influence variability between glucose measurement methods, which is clinically significant in the context of glycemic monitoring.
Conclusions: Although small differences between capillary and venous glucose values were observed, they are not clinically significant in most cases, indicating that capillary monitoring can be an effective tool for daily glycemic assessment in long-term care facilities.
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