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Confused with testing

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Fusilier3543

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I've recently been diagnosed 2 months ago, just seem to be going from one appointment to another but with no definitive direction. I decided to buy my own test machine to try and get my head around what affects my blood sugars, but I've just tested on my left hand it it came back at 7.9 which is high to what I have been getting so out of curiosity I tested again on my right hand and got 5.1 by this stage I thought I'd better do this again, left hand 7.2 then right hand 5.2 is this the norm with testing the right hand is always lower?


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Did you wash and fully dry your hands before testing? If not then either hand could have been 'contaminated' and therefore affect the readings.
 
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Good advice from julifriend there - do as he says and try again.:)
 
Fusilier3543 said:
Just tried again left hand was 5.8 and right hand was 4.8 this just adds to the confusion and frustration


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Don't forget these meters have tolerances of up to 20%, they are just a guide. Your left hand 5.8 could be anywhere from 4.2-7.4 ! Scary eh ! Don't get obsessed with individual readings and left hand right hand. Julifriend gave good advice regarding possible contamination but you will get different results from the same finger, even with the same drop of blood. Look for trends or multiple readings rather than a single reading, unless it's a hypo which needs attention. Good luck, Mo
 
mo1905 said:
Don't forget these meters have tolerances of up to 20%, they are just a guide. Your left hand 5.8 could be anywhere from 4.2-7.4 ! Scary eh ! Don't get obsessed with individual readings and left hand right hand. Julifriend gave good advice regarding possible contamination but you will get different results from the same finger, even with the same drop of blood. Look for trends or multiple readings rather than a single reading, unless it's a hypo which needs attention. Good luck, Mo
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Unlikely that the same hand would always be higher though.
 
I get different readings like you. This evening I had a 7.5, 8.0, and 8.5. Two on one hand, one on the other. I also use the Accu-chek mobile, which when it was tested by the standards authority was passed as accurate within plus or minus 15%. This is normal. I took 3 tests because I didn't believe the first one. I very rarely test more than once as I never know which one to record and it seems pointless unless there is a reading that appears totally abnormal, which is what happened tonight...
 
Bluetit1802 said:
I get different readings like you. This evening I had a 7.5, 8.0, and 8.5. Two on one hand, one on the other. I also use the Accu-chek mobile, which when it was tested by the standards authority was passed as accurate within plus or minus 15%. This is normal. I took 3 tests because I didn't believe the first one. I very rarely test more than once as I never know which one to record and it seems pointless unless there is a reading that appears totally abnormal, which is what happened tonight...
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were these results all taken at the same time? 7.9 and 5.1 are very different results. Outwith 20%.
 
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mo1905 said:
Well it's the same blood travelling from the left hand to the right hand ! Also, it's only been 3 tests ! I'm pretty sure it's meter inaccuracy rather than one dodgy hand !
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When I was first diagnosed I struggled to get a decent blood drop from my right hand and it often read low. Now I am used to testing I can get results from a much smaller drop.
 
this is too difficult said:
When I was first diagnosed I struggled to get a decent blood drop from my right hand and it often read low. Now I am used to testing I can get results from a much smaller drop.
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There is always a dominant hand which is easier to get blood from but the results shouldn't really vary too much just because of the left/right hand.
 
mo1905 said:
There is always a dominant hand which is easier to get blood from but the results shouldn't really vary too much just because of the left/right hand.
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it seems to be the blood drop size rather than the blood.
sometimes I know by the way the blood has run into the strip that there may be a bad result.
 
There can also be a problem if you squeeze the blood out as you are also squeezing out other stuff, including water. I sometimes have to squeeze to get any blood at all!
 
that's what I mean. Had to squeeze one hand but not the other if I wanted a drop I could use.
If I didn't squeeze the drop was very small and didn't seem to run into the strip.
 
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