I have two new glucose monitors and i just tested my blood and got two diff read!


Question: I have two new glucose monitors and i just tested my blood and got two diff reading 20 pts apart.Any Ideas?
Answers:

Accuracy of glucose meters is a common topic of clinical concern. Blood glucose meters must meet accuracy standards set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). According to ISO 15197 Blood glucose meters must provide results that are within 20% of a laboratory standard 95% of the time (for concentrations about 75 mg/dL, absolute levels are used for lower concentrations). However, a variety of factors can affect the accuracy of a test. Factors affecting accuracy of various meters include calibration of meter, ambient temperature, pressure use to wipe off strip (if applicable), size and quality of blood sample, high levels of certain substances (such as ascorbic acid) in blood, hematocrit, dirt on meter, humidity, and aging of test strips. Models vary in their susceptibility to these factors and in their ability to prevent or warn of inaccurate results with error messages. The Clarke Error Grid has been a common way of analyzing and displaying accuracy of readings related to management consequences. More recently an improved version of the Clarke Error Grid has come into use: It is known as the Consensus Error Grid.



The advice offered by Noccie is very accurate and informative. (Thumbs up to her!)

Most of the blood glucose meters on sale are known to be within 10-15% of the levels of accuracy of accepted levels allowed, which means that if you check your figures, are within accepted limits.

Unfortunately, to be more accurate than this, makes them outside the cost that is reasonably acceptable.



Yeah - it is a problem.

I have several meters (all of which use the same brand and type of test strip) and I sometimes test on two different meters from the same finger stick. Sometimes they are within 2 or 3 points of each other, and other times the numbers are different by between 10 and 30 points. Fact of life.

If you do measurements with both meters often enough, you may notice that one consistently measures higher than the other. Keep that in mind.

As for the immediate problem (which is not so immediate any longer, as you posted this 12 hours ago), I would go ahead an inject the 2 units, then measure again - on both meters - in an hour. And be alert for any signs of low blood sugars. In me, 2 units would do practically nothing, but your reaction is probably different.

It reminds me of the old Chinese proverb: "A man with only one watch always knows what time it is. A man with two watches never knows what time it is." Well - probably not so old, and probably not Chinese either.




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