Contour Link test machine

[Dragonflye]

Im putting this post in this forum as the test machine is specifically for transmitting the test results to the pump!!!

I've not been on my pump for 2 full months yet and my test machine doesnt seem to be working...

Last week I got a "Hi" reading, so did it again and got 32.8 so figured OK better have some insulin... didnt feel drastically high, nor did I have ketones and only 2 hours previously I'd been 6.something...

less than 1 hour later i started feeling funny so did my BG again and "Hi"... OK so now i start panicing and before i have more insulin I change everything, infusion set resevoir etc... However my feeling was more like hypo, i do not have a foggy why i did this but i tested again on my hubbies test machine and wasnt far from hypo (pressuming the hypo feelings i were getting were rapid drop in sugars) and i spent a couple of hours having lucozade every 15mins!!!

Tonight just over 1 hour ago I got "Hi"... OK so i was feeling slightly high but not THAT high, did it again and got 17.7, so OK ill do my insulin... 1 hour later I test again and "Hi", something not right here... come and use the other machine and 16.6...

when im only allowed 150 test strips a month this kinda thing is really going to mess things up for more, more than they already are!!!!

I'm panicing a little because over the last couple of weeks there has been a fair number of times when i thought i was feeling funny high or low but when tested I wasnt and knowing the way my luck goes my hba1c will have gone through the roof :cry: (i was at 6.7 before the pump)

I have the other machine to do all my tests on now, but has anyone else had any issues with contour or this particular machine? I dont even know who to speak to, medtronic or bayer!!!

 

[Dragonflye]

OK now im worried... within the space of less than 15mins, on a 2nd meter 16.6 to 3.9!!!!!! I have NO idea what my results are and wether or not I should be having insulin or food!!!

 

[MushyPeaBrain]

If I suspect my meter is not accurate I use my husband like control solution. Is there anyone who you could test to see what the machine says? Also have you washed your hands as anything left on them can affect some sensitive machines.

 

[cjw]

I have had similar problems in the past and discussed with Medtronic/Bayer/DSN - advice was to ensure fingers washed with warm water (guilty of not doing that previously) and to get a big enough drop of blood so that you don't need to pump the finger to get blood. Since I have been doing both of those I have been better.

What frustrates me is that if you test at the same time on 2 different fingers or even on the same finger a few seconds later you get figures that are different which makes no sense to me at all!

I would definitely advise 2 above tips.

 

[DiabetesTom]

Agreed.
Wash hands.
Big blood drops.
Get and use control solution.

Also poke your DSN for a spare meter.

 

[Dragonflye]

LOL poke DSN for spare meter...? I never got my original meter that I should have done, I contacted bayer and got it through them initially!!!

 

[LittleSue]

If your DSN is reluctant to give the meters out, she probably has a cupboard full of them. So ask for a spare.

If no luck then ask Bayer for another one. I know they promise to send one asap if yours goes wrong, but if they go out of stock, postal strike, long Easter/Christmas weekend etc, you don't want to be without a meter. You could say you've been advised that with a pump you must always have a spare meter*.

When I rang to order my ContourLink, they were out of stock. They offered me a free ordinary (non-Link) Contour to tide me over til the Link one arrived. I said I'd continue using my old meter, so they knew I have another meter. But today TWO Link meters arrived - in the same package. They must've thought if I'm on a pump I need a spare. At the very least they should give you a hefty discount if you buy one.

* you have - I've just said so :lol: