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What's the best - most accurate BC meter?

Monday12

Monday12

Well-Known Member
Messages
50
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi. I'm in my second week since being type 2 diagnosed. I ordered an SD Codefree meter kit straight away and I've been monitoring my levels closely. I'm worried about its accuracy though.

This morning I testing at 7.5 - fantastic! By far the best reading yet! It was almost too good to be true and so I retested on the same finger and got 10.3! What on earth???

So, I did dome googling, and apparently the acceptable margin of error for meters is plus or minus 20%. What on earth use is that if I'm trying to measure spikes etc? That means that if my true level is 10.0, an acceptable reading could be anywhere from 8.0 to 12.0. That's completely useless!

Can anyone recommend a different meter that can promise me better accuracy? I don't mind spending more money if I need to.

Thanks in advance

M12
 
Hi Monday,

All meters in the UK have to pass the same test, ie within 15% accuracy plus or minus. I doubt there is much difference between any of them, and for T2's not on insulin this is annoying but OK. All we are looking for are trends, and testing over a period of time will show us those trends and the accuracy will even itself out. It is not uncommon to have wildly different readings on consecutive tests. It isn't just the meters, it is our blood that is also changing by the second as it rushes round our bodies, plus the contamination possibilities. It is rare to have 2 drops of blood measuring the same. All we can do is take 3 tests if we feel the need to re-test. If 2 are similar, then Bingo, you have your reading. If they are all very different, take an average. Or it may be prudent to record the highest figure if you are brave enough.
 
Thanks Bluetit. I'm a little worried about recognising spikes after meals etc., and such a range of "accurate" results could make a complete mockery of the exercise......
 
Yes, my thoughts entirely, but we are stuck with what we have. If you re-test, do take 3 readings. An average is probably the most likely, but always test the same meal more than once or twice. I still test my regular meals and still get different spikes, but on average they work out much the same.

Likewise with venous blood tests at the doctors. 2 consecutive phials of blood would produce different results - blood changes very quickly.
 
I tested some meters but only three. An Accu check was not accurate and the SD codefree normally tested +1 in the low range and went into orbit in the high range. The Abbot Freestyle Freedom Lite was deadly accurate in the low ranges and not far out in the upper ranges.

I use the SD and take one point off if I am doing lots of readings since the strips are cheap. I use the Abbot one. (Actually I own two of them) if I buy cheap strips from Ebay because other wise they are expensive.
 
That's an interesting thread Squire F. I'm not too sure what to make of it all. I'm going to do some research and gather some views and then buy another meter I think - hopefully something more consistent.

Thanks for the insight people!

M12
 
Squire Fulwood said:
I tested some meters but only three. An Accu check was not accurate and the SD codefree normally tested +1 in the low range and went into orbit in the high range. The Abbot Freestyle Freedom Lite was deadly accurate in the low ranges and not far out in the upper ranges.

I use the SD and take one point off if I am doing lots of readings since the strips are cheap. I use the Abbot one. (Actually I own two of them) if I buy cheap strips from Ebay because other wise they are expensive.
Click to expand...

What do you call one point? 1mmol/l or point one of a mmol/l?
 
I make a point of listening to Dr Bernstein's monthly webcast. He undertakes ongoing testing of accuracy of various glucometers to ensure the best results for his patients (and himself as a Type 1). He gives updates on his findings and his current recommendation (no ties to any of the manufacturers) is the Freestyle and Freestyle Lite.
 
I've been using freestyle lite and it matches my venupuncture blood tests readings most of the time :)
 
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