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Codefree readings

pc.blogs

pc.blogs

Member
Messages
10
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi everyone,

Got my codefree meter a few days ago, and have been monitoring the effect of different foods. Forgive me if this is a daft question - following a meal i did a fingerpick test and the meter recorded 3.8. I thought this was odd, so tested again on a different finger, which gave a reading of 5.8, which was more in line with what i expected it to be. How accurate are these meters? Should i change the lancet every test?

Another silly thing - i'm testing 6 times a day at the moment, how many holes can i put into my fingers before it becomes a problem?

TIA

Phil
 
No meter is 100% accurate, unfortunately and they can vary by as much as 20% on any reading. I've found the best way to get an consistent reading from my SD Codefree is as follows:

1) Wash my hands thoroughly
2) Dry my hands thoroughly
3) Give the contacts on the strip a quick wipe on my shirt / jumper (I find this definitely improves consistency - might be something to do with cleaning the contacts)
4) When you have a drop of blood on your finger, wipe it away and get another one

I still occasionally get a "rogue" reading (but it tends to be on the high side rather than anything else). If that happens, I take another 2 readings and then use the median reading of the 3

I probably test 6 times a day too and I frequently use the same finger - I do have a lot of "micro scabs" on it but it doesn't bother me too much :)
 
3) the contacts are behind a sheet of plastic. You could save a bit of time there.:)
They are not that accurate but you get used to them and learn to recognise when a result seems off and know to test again.
 
phil1966 said:
No meter is 100% accurate, unfortunately and they can vary by as much as 20% on any reading. I've found the best way to get an consistent reading from my SD Codefree is as follows:

1) Wash my hands thoroughly
2) Dry my hands thoroughly
3) Give the contacts on the strip a quick wipe on my shirt / jumper (I find this definitely improves consistency - might be something to do with cleaning the contacts)
4) When you have a drop of blood on your finger, wipe it away and get another one

I still occasionally get a "rogue" reading (but it tends to be on the high side rather than anything else). If that happens, I take another 2 readings and then use the median reading of the 3

I probably test 6 times a day too and I frequently use the same finger - I do have a lot of "micro scabs" on it but it doesn't bother me too much :)
Click to expand...


I thought it says in the instructions not to handle the contacts on the strips?

How do you get a second drop of blood after wiping away the first? I only have enough blood for one go. What do you wipe it away with?

I'm testing about 10 times a day at the moment and my fingers are getting quite sore.

My Codefree gives wildly different readings sometimes when I re-test, and my current batch of strips are reading quite a bit higher than my Accu-chek mobile. (I'm not happy with this batch of strips so am cross checking some of my tests with the mobile as an experiment)
 
Bluetit1802 said:
I thought it says in the instructions not to handle the contacts on the strips?

How do you get a second drop of blood after wiping away the first? I only have enough blood for one go. What do you wipe it away with?

I'm testing about 10 times a day at the moment and my fingers are getting quite sore.

My Codefree gives wildly different readings sometimes when I re-test, and my current batch of strips are reading quite a bit higher than my Accu-chek mobile. (I'm not happy with this batch of strips so am cross checking some of my tests with the mobile as an experiment)
Click to expand...

I wipe them in case I have inadvertently touch the contacts or there are other contaminants on them - it's more of a habit now to be honest and I'm not sure it does any good :)

I have my lancet set on 1 and have no issues getting blood out - I could get loads out if I wanted (I just make sure my hands are warm). I just wipe it away with my thumb (figured that my hand's clean so it should be OK)
 
Bluetit1802 said:
I thought it says in the instructions not to handle the contacts on the strips?

How do you get a second drop of blood after wiping away the first? I only have enough blood for one go. What do you wipe it away with?

I'm testing about 10 times a day at the moment and my fingers are getting quite sore.

My Codefree gives wildly different readings sometimes when I re-test, and my current batch of strips are reading quite a bit higher than my Accu-chek mobile. (I'm not happy with this batch of strips so am cross checking some of my tests with the mobile as an experiment)
Click to expand...
try peeling one
 
I may have misunderstood. Everyone is shocked. The end you apply the blood to is behind plastic.:oops:
 
@beardie I am talking about the exposed electrical contacts on the end that goes into the meter - I don't think they're covered in plastic
 
phil1966 said:
No meter is 100% accurate, unfortunately and they can vary by as much as 20% on any reading. I've found the best way to get an consistent reading from my SD Codefree is as follows:

1) Wash my hands thoroughly
2) Dry my hands thoroughly
3) Give the contacts on the strip a quick wipe on my shirt / jumper (I find this definitely improves consistency - might be something to do with cleaning the contacts)
4) When you have a drop of blood on your finger, wipe it away and get another one
Click to expand...

OH My! Just tried that the wipe the first drop of blood away and Got My FIRST Ever 7-0 Reading!!
I had 10.1, 2 hours ago ;)
My Meter is a Contour usb, don't know if that's good or bad
But 7.0 ;) ;) :)
 
Bluetit1802 said:
I thought it says in the instructions not to handle the contacts on the strips?

How do you get a second drop of blood after wiping away the first? I only have enough blood for one go. What do you wipe it away with?

I'm testing about 10 times a day at the moment and my fingers are getting quite sore.

My Codefree gives wildly different readings sometimes when I re-test, and my current batch of strips are reading quite a bit higher than my Accu-chek mobile. (I'm not happy with this batch of strips so am cross checking some of my tests with the mobile as an experiment)
Click to expand...

Blue - I routinely wipe away the first drop of blood, but it's only the teenie, tiniest spec I wipe away. I prick, squeeze the base of my finger gently and as soon as I see any red whatsoever, I wipe that away, then create my testing blob. It's certainly not like creating two testing blobs.

You are testing a huge amount at the moment. Are you actually learning anything from all those tests?
 
AndBreathe said:
Blue - I routinely wipe away the first drop of blood, but it's only the teenie, tiniest spec I wipe away. I prick, squeeze the base of my finger gently and as soon as I see any red whatsoever, I wipe that away, then create my testing blob. It's certainly not like creating two testing blobs.

You are testing a huge amount at the moment. Are you actually learning anything from all those tests?
Click to expand...

Thanks for explaining that. I'll give it a try.
I have been testing too much. I have been trying to find my hidden peaks that may give rise to a higher than anticipated HbA1c (twice). I now believe these are all between eating and 2hrs after, no matter what I eat. Testing before and at 2hrs was not giving me a true reflection of my overall averages. I have now finished my experiments and will not be testing as much.
 
I use a tweezers to get a strip from the tub and push into the meter. The strips always cling together in pairs and I don't want to separate them by hand and put one back in the tub.
If I think a reading is high I test on the other hand and it's nearly always lower. Usually because I forgot to wash my hands first :facepalm:
 
I don't think that level of care is needed. As long as your fingers are not seriously contaminated.
 
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