Aggghhhhhh....! Accucheck v's Freestyle - accuracy??

[-Artemis-]

OK.... so.... since I've been on insulin, I've been using the Accu-check mobile - I really like that it's strip free as it makes it really easy to test when out and about etc....

Anyhoo - there have been lots of times I've felt low & wibbly - but my meter says 4.something - so I've thought "don't be so dramatic and just wait till your food arrives/the rest of the people you're with want to eat/you're home in ten mins etc etc etc"

But - this morning I felt *really* low - for the first time ever I actually felt lightheaded and like I might pass out.... so I tested on my accucheck - and it said 3.2 - which OK, *IS* low - but I really felt "worse".... anyway - obviously I ate promto - waited ten mins - and retested on the accucheck when it said 4.7.... so I 'should' have started to feel OK... but I didn't.... so I got my spare meter out - the freestyle neo - which I generally don't use but have it as it tests for ketones if needed.... anyway - I tested on that and it said 3.3! I retested on the accucheck and it still said 4.6 - so retested again on the freestyle.... still 3.3....

Anyway - I obviously ate a bit more and then felt fine.... but all day I've been cross-checking my accucheck with the freestyle - and ALL DAY the accucheckhas been anywhere between 1.5 and 2.5 points higher than the freestyle....!! Then - to make matters worse; I'm sat in my Endo's reception as happen to have an apt today - and see this....!!

I' checked the way I am applying the blood to the meter - and I"m doing it *exactly* as it recommends.... so I'm now a) totally freaked out that I've probably been in the 2's several times without realising and b) wondering which meter to trust....?

As someone who's already really frightened of not being hypo aware, this really hasn't helped.... does anyone else use the freestyle optimum neo or the accucheck mobile...? Any thoughts....?

 

[yingtong]

I don't use the same meters as you but have had the same problem with other meters.i am now unaware of "hypo's" so this is critical to me,so I always test with 2 meters and always use the lowest reading,not ideal,but it has worked for me.Roll on to when I get my pump!

 

[logindetails]

Hate to say this as I know there are a lot of fans of the Accucheck mobile on this forum but I stopped using it (2 of them) because I felt I couldn't trust the readings - same as you've described above. I used a Freestyle Optium for a while (same strips as the Neo) which I felt I could trust.

 

[-Artemis-]

Hate to say this as I know there are a lot of fans of the Accucheck mobile on this forum but I stopped using it (2 of them) because I felt I couldn't trust the readings - same as you've described above. I used a Freestyle Optium for a while (same strips as the Neo) which I felt I could trust.

Thanks for that feedback @logindetails ..... Hmmmm.... :-/

 

[Bluetit1802]

I'm a Type 2 so it doesn't matter if my meters are inaccurate. However, I have 2 meters. The Accu-chek Mobile and the SD Codefree (cheaper strips).
I only use the Codefree. Last week, however, I tested over several days using both meters for the same tests, but found the Accu-chek read much lower than the Codefree - by an average of 0.5mmol/l.

 

[MushyPeaBrain]

I had this meter and got fed up with it! I had 3 in a row. First was fine for a bit but then broke. Next started saying there was no blood on cassette and third ended up doing the same. I began to feel it wasn't accurate. I changed to Bayer Contour Next and never looked back!! Takes much less blood, super fast and very accurate. Still use the Accu-chek fimger pricker though as love it!

 

[raregerry]

Hi i have used the accuchek mobile for the last 9 months, test 4 times a day and from the figures from the meter my software predicts my hbnc1.

i had two tests for HbA1c and they have both come out on target with the predicted readings so from that i taking that the meter is working as it should. Also the meter seems reads inline to the way i feel and expect from what i have eaten etc.

 

[Dodo]

Been using the Accu Chek Mobile for some years now, doing a controlled test every few weeks. It seems to be very accurate indeed and certainly convenient not needing to reload test strips for each test.

 

[neels]

Hi,
I have Accu-chek nano and also find it has high readings than my other meters, typical example yesterday - Accu-check nano - 20.2, Omnipod (freestyle) - 12.4. On one I would have had a heart attack and on the other I would have said OK, and maybe do something about it.

Another example over the weekend: Accu-check nano - 4.7, Omnipod (freestyle) - 2.8. Since I knew I was was feeling lower than 4.7, I rechecked on the other meter. To me this is just not good enough and certainly not something that I rely on. I have done the Control test on both, and both come within the specified ranges.

 

[shedlover111]

I love the accucheck mobile and spent a bit of time doing comparisons with my main meter, I find if I add 0.7 to my mobile I do get a correlation that seems to work for me fairly consistently ......never yet found two meters that read the same!"!

 

[AndyOD]

OK.... so.... since I've been on insulin, I've been using the Accu-check mobile - I really like that it's strip free as it makes it really easy to test when out and about etc....

Anyhoo - there have been lots of times I've felt low & wibbly - but my meter says 4.something - so I've thought "don't be so dramatic and just wait till your food arrives/the rest of the people you're with want to eat/you're home in ten mins etc etc etc"

But - this morning I felt *really* low - for the first time ever I actually felt lightheaded and like I might pass out.... so I tested on my accucheck - and it said 3.2 - which OK, *IS* low - but I really felt "worse".... anyway - obviously I ate promto - waited ten mins - and retested on the accucheck when it said 4.7.... so I 'should' have started to feel OK... but I didn't.... so I got my spare meter out - the freestyle neo - which I generally don't use but have it as it tests for ketones if needed.... anyway - I tested on that and it said 3.3! I retested on the accucheck and it still said 4.6 - so retested again on the freestyle.... still 3.3....

Anyway - I obviously ate a bit more and then felt fine.... but all day I've been cross-checking my accucheck with the freestyle - and ALL DAY the accucheckhas been anywhere between 1.5 and 2.5 points higher than the freestyle....!! Then - to make matters worse; I'm sat in my Endo's reception as happen to have an apt today - and see this....!!

I' checked the way I am applying the blood to the meter - and I"m doing it *exactly* as it recommends.... so I'm now a) totally freaked out that I've probably been in the 2's several times without realising and b) wondering which meter to trust....?

As someone who's already really frightened of not being hypo aware, this really hasn't helped.... does anyone else use the freestyle optimum neo or the accucheck mobile...? Any thoughts....?

View attachment 7603

I think that there is a simple truth with Diabetes and that unfortunately is trust your instincts.
If I felt low enough to test, then there is something to be dealt with.

So decide for yourself use the tool (tester) as an indicator.

 

[rubold]

I love the AC mobile and have never had any reason to doubt the readings. I also use Freestyle Lite strips as these were shown to be the most accurate in an independent test report. Comparison readings are always within 5%. You do need to make sure there are no food residues on your fingers and I use alcohol wipes to clean them before pricking. Also a larger blood drop than 0.3ul is required to ensure the meter does not report insufficient blood.

 

[lukey2k]

I acquired various meters over the last few years, either buying them , filling in online forms for various meters or complimentary upgrades , I have found that accu check mobile seems to be mid range for readings with the various ones I have tested and decided to change my prescription to this one due to the ability to hold 50 strips in a cassete and carry several fast click lancets with me. but different meters work better for different people , I would stick to the one that you feel more comfortable with

 

[Minnie45]

I've been using the mobile for years and always find it accurate but I must admit I'm really a bit OCD when using it lol ie washing hands first, not touching the strip by making sure I have an adequate drop of blood, control tests once a month. Now and again I do a comparison on my mum's meter and it's always accurate. I now use the libre most of the day and again it's pretty comparable.

 

[ElyDave]

Hate to say this as I know there are a lot of fans of the Accucheck mobile on this forum but I stopped using it (2 of them) because I felt I couldn't trust the readings - same as you've described above. I used a Freestyle Optium for a while (same strips as the Neo) which I felt I could trust.

Me as well, I'd got one to make testing on the bike/run easier but felt that the readings were not reflective of the situation and I kept getting errors as well.