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| TO: | Area Directors, Area Chief Medical Officers, and Clinical Directors |
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| FROM: | Director, Indian Health Service |
| SUBJECT: | Diabetes Monitoring Supplies Diabetes Monitoring Supplies |
The purpose of this Special General Memorandum is to increase access to diabetes mellitus (DM) blood glucose monitoring supplies, including blood glucose monitors (BGMs) and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) for patients of Indian Health Service (IHS) direct-service health care facilities.
Monitoring blood glucose is an essential part of managing DM in patients. It helps to identify patterns in the fluctuation of blood glucose levels in response to diet, exercise, medications, and pathological processes.
The IHS policy is that all direct-service health care facilities include DM monitoring supplies in their formulary. The DM monitoring supplies will be ordered and documented in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) by a licensed practitioner or under an approved standing order, protocol, or collaborative practice agreement. Facilities will determine funding resources to procure DM monitoring supplies and develop a standard process for dispensing DM monitoring supplies for IHS patients.
The required DM monitoring supplies will include, at a minimum (facilities may elect to add additional DM monitoring supplies to their local formulary):
- BGM
- Blood Glucose Test Strips
- Alcohol Swabs
- Lancet Devices
- Lancets
- Sharps Containers
- CGM Sensors
- CGM Readers
- Adhesive tape or covers
Area Directors, Area Chief Medical Officers, and Clinical Directors are expected to ensure standardized access to DM monitoring supplies, including BGMs and CGMs, for IHS patients as defined in this policy.
Effective Date
This SGM becomes effective on the date signed.
/Roselyn Tso/
Roselyn Tso
Director
Indian Health Service
