The Effect of Isopropyl Alcohol and Chlorhexidine Gluconate on the Blood Glucose in Diabetic Patients Referring to the Emergency Department

Introduction: Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that can cause considerable disability and mortality. The aim of controlling diabetes is to normalize blood glucose levels to reduce the progression of vascular and neurological complications. Blood glucose control and reassurance are essential for planning health care. Objective: In the present study, the effect of local isopropyl alcohol and chlorhexidine gluconate disinfectants on blood glucose in diabetic patients referred to the emergency department was compared. Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 168 diabetic patients referred to the emergency department at 502 Hospital; their blood glucose levels were measured in three stages after local anesthetics with isopropyl alcohol, chlorhexidine gluconate and venous method. Then, the collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistical (percentage and frequency) and analytical (T-Test) methods to compare the mean of blood glucose using SPSS 21 Results: The results showed that the mean (219.72, 210.91 and 199.42) and standard deviation  (57.16, 56.58 and 57.29) of glucose level were measured with the glucometer after 70% applying isopropyl alcohol disinfection and 2% chlorhexidine gluconate and the venous blood test in the samples. Further, a capillary blood glucose measured is higher than that of glucose levels, and the mean of difference of chlorhexidine gluconate 70% and isopropyl alcohol was statistically significant by t-test(P=0.045). Discussion and Conclusion: The results showed that there is a difference between capillary and venous test. Although the speed of operation in the emergency room is critical, clinical and therapeutic decisions require careful examination of the patient, and intravenous analysis will ultimately be useful to achieve an outcome. In emergencies, allowing the sampling position to dry the disinfection solutions can prevent false results which require the attention of nurses.