High-dose vitamin C therapy has gained increased interest as an adjunctive treatment of septic shock, although convincing evidence is still lacking. High blood levels of vitamin C may interfere with several point-of-care blood glucose meters. We describe the case of a 67-year-old septic patient known with chronic renal failure who developed truly severe hypoglycemia, which was masked by spuriously high glucose values measured on a capillary blood glucose meter. This initially led to the treatment of spurious hyperglycemia with high-dose insulin and a delayed correct diagnosis and treatment, rendering substantial risk for the patient. Awareness of this dangerous interference is warranted.
Keywords: blood glucose meters; glucose; hypoglycemia; interference; point-of-care; vitamin c.
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