The Minneapolis City Council approved a resolution on July 18 to give $2,500 to the Minneapolis Fire Department to purchase approximately 28 glucometers. 

Glucometers, also known as glucose meters, are devices commonly used by patients with diabetes to monitor blood sugar. The Council voted in favor of the resolution on July 18 and Mayor Jacob Frey approved it on July 24. 

The money to purchase the glucometers comes from the 2024 Community Safety Grant from CenterPoint Energy. 

By purchasing these glucometers, the fire department can effectively treat patients at the scene of an incident, Council Member Jason Chavez (Ward 9) said in an email statement to the Minnesota Daily. 

“I was glad to author a resolution for the 2024 Community Safety Grant for glucometer kits,” Chavez said in the statement. “CenterPoint Energy awarded the Minneapolis Fire Department a community partnership grant to purchase glucometer kits so firefighters have the ability to check blood glucose levels of patients on scene during an incident.” 

A person without diabetes can have blood sugar readings between 80 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) and 180 mg/dL, depending on when they last ate, said Dr. Amir Moheet, a University of Minnesota professor in the Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism. People with diabetes can have blood sugar readings far higher or lower than readings from people without.

Moheet said a person’s blood sugar can dip or spike for many reasons, but for diabetics, it is usually a side-effect of medications such as insulin. If a person does not take enough insulin, their blood sugar rises and if they take too much, it lowers. Fire departments having the ability to test for abnormal blood sugar could help provide someone with an early diagnosis. 

“There are a number of different conditions that could be causing (abnormal blood sugar),” Moheet said. “However, if it is due to a glucose abnormality, then checking glucose would rapidly identify the problem and could potentially lead to early treatment.” 

In a dire emergency, the fire department can check the blood sugar level of someone who has passed out and determine if it is a blood sugar-related issue, Moheet said. From there, they can administer insulin if the person has high blood glucose or give them sugar in case of low blood glucose.

“This could lead to the identification of a treatable problem quickly,” Moheet said. 

If someone has very high blood sugar, in the range of 500 mg/dL or above, they may experience immediate effects like dehydration or fatigue, and may fall into a coma if not treated, Moheet said. High blood sugar can also cause long-term complications such as damage to the eyes, kidneys or nerves.

Similarly, low blood sugar can have dangerous effects because sugar is vital for proper brain function, Moheet said.

If someone has low blood sugar, 70 mg/dL or below, they could have difficulty thinking or get confused, Moheet said. If their blood sugar goes below 55 mg/dL they can pass out, and if it continues to lower, could have a seizure or fall into a coma. 

“Glucose is the main fuel for the brain,” Moheet said. “If the glucose is low in the blood, that can affect our cognitive abilities.”

By having glucometers, the fire department can immediately help patients who passed out due to low blood sugar, Moheet said. The quicker low blood sugar is treated, usually with something with lots of sugar, like fruit juice, the less negative long-term effects it may cause. 

“If they can initiate treatment right away, they can quickly reverse the low blood sugar and the patient can regain consciousness,” Moheet said.