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Different finger - different result

S

sugarmog

Well-Known Member
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110
I use an Accu Check Mobile to monitor my glucose levels. I have noticed that I can get different results from tests done at the same time on different fingers. Just did my pre bedtime reading - the third finger on my left hand gave a reading of 5.9, and the forth finger 6.5. Is this an accurate measure of the blood in each finger or just the margin of error in the machine.
 
If you even take two readings from the same finger they will usually also be different. The difference is in the meter - they are allowed a tolerance of 20% so two readings can vary quite a bit. It's best to do just one reading. See this previous post on meter accuracy if you want to know more:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=17311
 
So if I understand this correctly my reading of 5.9 could theoretically represent a true level of anywhere between a pretty normal 4.8 and a diabetic diagnosis 7. It might go some way to explaining why many doctors don't see much use in continual self testing by type 2's.
 
I think it's possible for the meters to be that variable, but I have to say that mine's pretty consistent (Optimum Xceed). Could it be that one finger was not as clean as the other? I had a shock the other day when I did a test on the hand that had been making breakfast for my partner and found 17.3. Washed the honey off (ahem) and tried again and was something like 3.8.
 
Snodger said:
I had a shock the other day when I did a test on the hand that had been making breakfast for my partner and found 17.3. Washed the honey off (ahem) and tried again and was something like 3.8.
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I think most of us have done this!

Ann
 
I thought most meters were tested to be within 5%, my Bayer Contour is. Wouldn't be much use if they were 20%! The difference could also be down to how you extract the blood. If you tend to squeeze your finger, this can release fluids from the surrounding tissues that distort the readings, so a bigger squeeze on one finger could lead to a different reading to the other one.
 
Grazer said:
I thought most meters were tested to be within 5%, my Bayer Contour is. Wouldn't be much use if they were 20%! The difference could also be down to how you extract the blood. If you tend to squeeze your finger, this can release fluids from the surrounding tissues that distort the readings, so a bigger squeeze on one finger could lead to a different reading to the other one.
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I do have to milk my finger somewhat to produce enough blood sometimes - I hope I haven't been giving myself false low readings :?
 
I've been squeezing for 6 months with my old meter (AccuChek Mobile), but I accidently glanced at the instructions for the new one* (Contour USB) and it suggested massaging your finger from the base up. That works a treat, I not have blood squirting everywhere.

*I need to make it clear that, as a card carrying "man", I never usually read instructions, and did so here completely by accident.
 
borofergie said:
*I need to make it clear that, as a card carrying "man", I never usually read instructions, and did so here completely by accident.
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Know what you mean. I accidentally glanced at the instructions for an MFI wardrobe once, and my mate saw me. I nearly died of embarrassment! Worse thing was, the instructions obviously didn't help anyway.
 
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