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Differences in meters/testing strips

V

viviennem

Well-Known Member
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3,140
Location
Wensleydale, North Yorkshire
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Other
Dislikes
Football. Bad manners.
I have two meters, an ordinary Bayer Contour which they gave me free, and a Freestyle Freedom Lite which the practice gave me. I have one at home, and carry the other in my handbag, so that I always have one with me. I do alternate them weekly - from today the Freestyle is in my bag and the Contour is at home doing most of the work.

I buy the strips for the Bayer myself; the practice gives me strips for the Freestyle, but I don't want to push my luck with prescription strips until I've negotiated how many I can have, which is why I use both meters. I'm testing quite a lot at present, but seem to be stable on my present diet so may test less frequently (but still at least 3 times daily) in future.

I believe that the Contour measures whole blood, while the Freestyle is calibrated to give a serum reading.

Whenever I start a new batch of strips for either, I do a test on both using the same drop of blood so that I know what the difference is. Sometimes the readings are the same, sometimes (like today) the readings are different - the Freestyle is reading 0.5 higher than the Contour, which is about what I would expect for a serum vs whole blood reading.

I have noticed, though, that different batches of strips for the same monitor can give variable readings - my present Freestyle batch seems to be reading about 0.5 higher than the last Freestyle batch.

As I said, I'm pretty stable - readings between 5.0 and 6.5 usually, and I am probably worrying about nothing - but just how accurate are these meters?

Comments welcome!

Viv
 
Accuracy and meters.........<groan>

Viv. I have lost count of the times this has been bought up. Basically stick to one meter for day to day readings. Stick to one test at a time. You will never get the same readings from even the same drop of blood. They are after all not precision instruments.....just a guide to levels.

Forgive me if I don't continue with this one........Here's a link to a recent thread about it :

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=18530&hilit=meters#p172969
 
Thanks very much for that, Ken - very useful info. SInce both my meters appear to be consistent in themselves, and don't differ greatly from each other in any case, I'll continue to carry one and use the home-based one for my main testing. It's very seldom I need to test away from home anyway (I don't get out much! :lol: ).

You and Sue, as monitors, must get so fed up with us newbies asking the same questions. I'm obviously not good at 'searching'. I do appreciate the time you take, and your patience :D

Many thanks

Viv
 
Hi Viv.

No, we never get 'fed up'........we just answer if we can or direct to previous things as here in this thread. At one time we were being asked the same thing almost every day and it does get wearing at times. Not unbearable though....... :)

Patience is what Dr's need lessons in........or should that read Patients ...... :wink:

As you say, the search facility on the site throws up previous posts and so long as they are not too old they can sometimes provide an answer. If not then ........'we aim to please.' :D
 
Vivienne, with a forum with as many threads as this one it becomes nearly impossible to find the proverbial needle in the haystack. The search facility helps but you need to know what to put in the search criteria. That's where the skill of the Monitors comes in... plus their long memories. :)
 
Sorry, I've still got a little niggle about this :roll: .

My last pot of Freestyle test strips consistently gave me readings clustered in the mid-5s to low-6s.

My new pot is giving me readings consistently in the high-6s to low-7s. At first I thought it was a rebound after a couple or 4 days of too much red wine :oops: but I last drank alcohol 3 days ago.

Is a variation between pots to be expected? I don't have any control solution for the meter. As I say, the readings are grouped consistently and don't vary (much) in range from previous days/weeks - just at the higher end!

Any help appreciated! before I reach for the whisky :shock:

Viv :)
 
Viv,

I would be surprised if the higher readings was down to the strips and have never noticed this in my time using blood glucose meters, it could be that you are starting to get a cold or something which will cause a increase in your bg readings.

Nigel
 
Viv.

I'm inclined to agree with Nigel. I have had a chest infection for a couple of weeks or so and the first I knew was when Bg levels started to rise, then went all over the place. Back down to normal after AB's and rest etc.

BTW, Whisky sounds good.....carb free !! :D
 
Hmmm!

Not a sign of a cold or anything as yet, but I don't suppose that means anything . . . I was in the surgery last Thursday, that's where I catch most of my colds :lol:

And the weather's b- awful! blizzards all day!

I'll keep an eye on things and let you know.

It was Famous Grouse, by the way - medicinal only, of course, if I'm getting a cold! :lol: :lol:

Thanks, both!

Viv :)
 
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