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I have been pondering how different glucometers produce dramatically different results. Whilst there is usually an acceptable level of consistency between the daily readings of each, why might there be a difference in excess of 1.2 mols between one and t'other?
For instance, my FBG might be 5.2 mmol/l with one unit (a celebratory result) and 6.4 with another (well inside the pre-diabetic range).
Fortunately, I have a GlucoRx HCT meter that not only displays blood glucose, it simultaneously gives a hematocrit % reading and applies hematocrit correction.
From Wikipedia, hematocrit is the volume percentage of red blood cells in blood and is normally 47% ±5% for men and 42% ±5% for women.
Now, mine is all over the place, falling between 24 and 41 but the good ol' GlucoRx gives predictably consistent results irrespective of my HCT. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for my other units which are all relatively state-of-the-art yet about as accurate as a blind nail thrower.
Clearly, this might be a problem that is specific to those like myself with low hematocrit levels, but the following paper that examines this issue shows the considerable influence that HCT can exert on glucometer readings:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3692232/
One can examine the individual graphs to see why only 6 out of 19 meters tested were relatively unaffected by HCT. Ah yes, I do realise that the study is 5 years old but the meters I have are all considerably younger.
For instance, my FBG might be 5.2 mmol/l with one unit (a celebratory result) and 6.4 with another (well inside the pre-diabetic range).
Fortunately, I have a GlucoRx HCT meter that not only displays blood glucose, it simultaneously gives a hematocrit % reading and applies hematocrit correction.
From Wikipedia, hematocrit is the volume percentage of red blood cells in blood and is normally 47% ±5% for men and 42% ±5% for women.
Now, mine is all over the place, falling between 24 and 41 but the good ol' GlucoRx gives predictably consistent results irrespective of my HCT. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for my other units which are all relatively state-of-the-art yet about as accurate as a blind nail thrower.
Clearly, this might be a problem that is specific to those like myself with low hematocrit levels, but the following paper that examines this issue shows the considerable influence that HCT can exert on glucometer readings:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3692232/
One can examine the individual graphs to see why only 6 out of 19 meters tested were relatively unaffected by HCT. Ah yes, I do realise that the study is 5 years old but the meters I have are all considerably younger.
