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cannot trust meters

C

celast

Well-Known Member
Messages
157
Location
wilmslow cheshire
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
took four readings one after the other on seperate fingers this is how it went 6.5 10.3 10.2 6.3
my screening nurse said DONT test with type 2 , you will see when you have your hba1c test how you are doing,beggining to think she is right.
 
celast said:
took four readings one after the other on seperate fingers this is how it went 6.5 10.3 10.2 6.3
my screening nurse said DONT test with type 2 , you will see when you have your hba1c test how you are doing,beggining to think she is right.
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She's NOT right, you need to know how much of what you can eat, and you can only do that with testing. If you did consecutive tests, you could be contaminating the site as you test. You need to wash carefully, then dry thoroughly, before testing. Any foreign matter will effect the test. So if you do 4 tests, unless you follow that procedure 4 times over, you could get odd results. Also, if you squeeze near the site to get blood you can corrupt the test, so with 4 tests, maybe a bit of squeezing? Meters aren't that accurate, but tests should be within 15% of each other at worst, so something went wrong. It's normally best to do one good test and rely on it UNLESS you get a really odd one when it might be a bad test or duff strip.
 
i have also been told i dont need to test so i dont my last one i had was last friday and it was 7.3 and my diabetic nurse said im doing good from being 25.5 in feb then to 9.3 in april now down to 7.3
 
I can`t see how anyone can manage their diabetes without a meter. Mine started at 24 ish, and are now around 4 to 5. In other words, normal.

As for the random results, as Grazer said, hands have to be clean, and not squeeze near the puncture.
 
If I hadn't started testing myself as soon as I was diagnosed I'd still be eating 'healthy wholemeal bread' and the odd bit of pastry here and there and wondering why I was exhausted. Only thanks to the meter do I KNOW what I've always SUSPECTED - carbs don't do my blood glucose levels any favours whatsoever.

I know the results can vary from meter to meter, but I don't understand how 3 consecutive drops of blood can vary from finger to finger in the short space of a few seconds. Unless the very act of pricking the finger several times has some sort of traumatic effect on BG too. That's always a possibility I suppose.

What about using sterile wipes before pricking? Has anyone tried them and do they make a difference? :think:
 
Most sources (but not all) say you shouldn't use alcohol wipes.Some say it's because it causes the skin to harden, others because they say it affects the results. If used, the alcohol has to be allowed to dry before use.
The most recent reseach I know of suggests
the first choice is to wash the hands with soap and water, dry them, and use the first drop of blood for SMBG. If washing hands is not possible, and they are not visibly soiled or exposed to a sugar-containing product, it is acceptable to use the second drop of blood after wiping away the first drop. Firm squeezing of the finger should be avoided.
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They did find that pressure made a difference but they also found it difficult to measure squeezing as it varies from individual to individual They used a hand blood pressure meter(using a neonatal cuff) so that may not be the same as real life squeezing!
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/34/3/556.full

These are counsels of perfection; I think I probably test without washing more times than not. Practically, it made me laugh about the second drop of blood. When I'm out running and I can prick my finger and get a stream of blood, not a drop (and indeed I can even get blood out without pricking ; there are so many holes on my fingers :lol: )
 
phoenix said:
These are counsels of perfection; I think I probably test without washing more times than not. Practically, it made me laugh about the second drop of blood. When I'm out running and I can prick my finger and get a stream of blood, not a drop (and indeed I can even get blood out without pricking ; there are so many holes on my fingers :lol: )
Click to expand...

Indeed... nothing more annoying when you go to test and get blood from different places on your finger due to their poor pin cushion nature! or you don't notice to start with and then 5 mins later you have left blood everywhere
 
I am type 2 for 5 years now - my BS (with 1000mg Metaforim x 2 daily + 1mg Glymipride (sp!) X 1 daily.
Classically my readings have been high 6.5-8.8 spiking at 14 one one-off occassions.

I am really WORRIED as 2 readings 1 hour ago read 3.4!!! checked twice to see it was correct. This is worrying because my glucose level is usually high - and I AM TREMBLING SHAKING FURIOUS - TERRIBLE THIRST FOR 2 DAYS etc etc.

How can I possibly slip from 14.1 to 3.4 (the only change I have made is I am using Cinnammon now as a herbal "reversal" test.

I am eating chocolate to try to get it up - BUT THAT IS ONLY 2nd TIME IN FIVE YEARS IT HAS BEEN BELOW 5 and NEVER BELOW 4 BEFORE

PLEASE ANY ADVICE - SHOULD I CALL NHS 24 ??? :|
 
You need to monitor your blood glucose 3.4 mmol/l isn't going to cause you any harm.. just keep testing until its back up above 4 mmol/l
 
Thank You Pneu - I tried to send you some file attachments with useful Type 2 reversal info - but thhis site will not accept *.doc OR *.pdf !!! WHAT FILETPE DOES IT ACCEPT - DO YOU KNOW - THANK & KR Aonghas
 
Aonghas.. I am not sure what file types it accepts..

Reference reversal.. unless you have caught it really early and still have a good amount of pancreatic function left then I don't think type II can be reversed.. it can be controlled and you can achieve non-diabetic blood glucose like many on this site but I am pretty certain if you went back to a mass carb-fest then you would soon start to have problems
 
phoenix said:
(and indeed I can even get blood out without pricking ; there are so many holes on my fingers :lol: )
Click to expand...


Tell me about it, often get two sources of blood even though I've only pricked the finger once :D
 
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