FORMULARY REVIEW OF BLOOD GLUCOSE METERS, TEST STRIPS AND LANCETS FOR SELF-MONITORING OF BLOOD GLUCOSE (1)

Blood Glucose and ketone testing

Working with providers across Derbyshire the Derbyshire CCGs are undertaking a review of the current formulary choices for Blood Glucose and ketone testing.

The updated formulary is intended to help healthcare professionals working in both primary care and specialist centres choose blood glucose monitoring products for people with diabetes who need to self-monitor their blood glucose (SMBG).

A multidisciplinary stakeholder group consisting of including diabetes specialist nurses, GP leads for diabetes and diabetes pharmacists has been convened. This group has representatives from the CCGs, GP practices, community teams and secondary care trusts across the Derbyshire health economy.

The group has defined a comprehensive set of evaluation criteria for the manufacturers to assess all their meters/strips/lancets against.

These criteria look at

• Compliance with the latest ISO standards for accuracy (available for meters and needles)
• Cost to the NHS of the test strips and lancets
• Clinical features such as glucose & ketone testing, carbohydrate counting
• Usability e.g. meter size, expiry, coding, suitability for people with disabilities
• Utilisation of the latest technology e.g. supported by apps., downloadable results
• Support for patient self-management
• Support for healthcare professionals
• Availability in both primary and secondary care
• Compatibility with DVLA requirements e.g. memory storage
• Plans to discontinue the product or any UK safety alerts

Scores have been allocated to each criterion, weighted according to each one's relevance to clinical care and patient outcomes.

The manufacturers of all the blood glucose monitoring products currently on the market will be invited to submit their products for inclusion in the review process. The resulting submissions will be scored according to pre-approved criteria. Those products which score highest will be shortlisted, and samples taken to a patient and Health Care Professionals evaluation event. The results from the patient event will inform the final decision about which products to include in the formulary.

These will be signed off by the Derbyshire Joint Area Prescribing Committee for inclusion on the formulary.

Blood glucose meters into 3 categories.

Category A: For patients with type 2 diabetes or with gestational diabetes

Category B: For patients with type 1 diabetes who need to monitor their blood ketone and blood glucose levels

Category C: For patients using insulin pumps or those who have been taught carbohydrate counting

The CCGs intend to award a place on the CCG Formulary for the top 2 products within each category, however the CCG reserves the right to award a place of on the formulary to more or less than 2 products.