My Wavesense Jazz meter was delivered last evening, well a pair of them bought on the cheap because the kits were long out of date with the included test strips and control solution - hence the cheap, but fine to play about with for now whilst I get my head around it and waiting for delivery of in date items.....
Two things I am not clear on...
1. A 'normal' Control Solution is included, but I don't understand the actual purpose. The instructions say how to use it, but not when/why. The test strip container says the 'normal' solution should produce a result on the meter of between 5.8 and 8.8 - they produce results of around 7.2 mmol/L near mid range. I would expect the Control Solution to be carefully calibrated to provide a precise reference reading, rather than a wide range of 3mmol/L. All it really proves is the unit is sort of working.
2. I have tested it in earnest a few times, just to get the hang of it, with the long out of date strips. The results are reasonably consistent, though I fancy higher than actual. How crucial are these use by dates on the strips?
As already said, I don't desperately need to keep a close eye on my glucose, I am right at the bottom end of the diabetic range/ marginal. I just fancied having a bit of rough feedback of progress at home.
On a different note - I thought I might be struggling to self inflict injury with the lance. Accidental cuts and bruises never much bother me, but inflicting injury deliberately... In fact it was barely noticeable when fired.
Two things I am not clear on...
1. A 'normal' Control Solution is included, but I don't understand the actual purpose. The instructions say how to use it, but not when/why. The test strip container says the 'normal' solution should produce a result on the meter of between 5.8 and 8.8 - they produce results of around 7.2 mmol/L near mid range. I would expect the Control Solution to be carefully calibrated to provide a precise reference reading, rather than a wide range of 3mmol/L. All it really proves is the unit is sort of working.
2. I have tested it in earnest a few times, just to get the hang of it, with the long out of date strips. The results are reasonably consistent, though I fancy higher than actual. How crucial are these use by dates on the strips?
As already said, I don't desperately need to keep a close eye on my glucose, I am right at the bottom end of the diabetic range/ marginal. I just fancied having a bit of rough feedback of progress at home.
On a different note - I thought I might be struggling to self inflict injury with the lance. Accidental cuts and bruises never much bother me, but inflicting injury deliberately... In fact it was barely noticeable when fired.
