Glucose Meter Interactions

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a strong reducing agent that interferes with the electrochemical reactions used by many home and hospital glucose meters, producing falsely elevated blood glucose readings, especially with glucose dehydrogenase (GDH-PQQ) and some glucose oxidase strip chemistries. Cases have been reported where high-dose vitamin C therapy led to a wrong diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis and inappropriate insulin treatment.