I am not 100% convinced that I am doing right. I used 3 strips yesterday and 5 this morning to get a reading. Does anyone have any experience of this and also is there any reader out there that is better
Hi Tosh1, and welcome to the group! can you explain why you're needing to use three or five strips to get one reading? If you are getting a good drop of blood to test with, but the reading still shows up as an error code, then it may have to do with how the sample is taken up into the strip -- today's meters and strips work by capilary action, so you hold the test strip right next to the drop of blood to sample, and the blood should be drawn up into the testing portion of the strip. It could also be that the sample is not large enough for the strip; that is to say that the testing area of the strip needs to be completely "covered" or filled by the blood sample in order for the meter to work. Can you ask a nurse practitioner or certified diabetes educator in your doctor's practice to go over testing with you in an office or clinic setting?
I've been at this only a few months myself, and do get error readings from time to time, due to not enough blood going into the test strip to sample and calculate. After a while testing with your current meter, you might get a more accurate sense of exactly how large a sample/ blood drop you need for your meter to get an accurate reading. Alternatively, there are many videos online which show how to take a reading. Perhaps your meter's manufacturer has a website, and videos on there explaining how to use their meter?
Keep asking questions, on this board and from others whom you also trust. It's sometimes a difficult upward climb at first, but you can get the hang of this and start gaining control.