• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Differing blood results

megan

Well-Known Member
Messages
369
Location
weymouth
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
dishonesty and ********
I'm currently switching to Dexcom g6. It's now done the two hour warm up and the first test it's taken shocked me. I did a blood test to check. But I still have my libre on for another few hours. Was keeping as a back up whilst I did the switch. A bit gutted to be honest as I've had great results recently and this now throws a shadow over it all. Results I trusted
IMG_1660330632.459089.jpgIMG_2090.jpgIMG_2089.jpg
 
That's really annoying but unfortunately likely to fall within the error margins, I "know" that traditional finger prick meters have a accuracy of +/- 15%. Which means when you measure 10 it might actually be 8.5 or 11.5 or anything in between. Don't know about the dexcom but libre says to be most accurate in the "normal" range whatever that may be. As far as I know it's not really specified. Say both have the +/-!5% error margin it might just be a ~1 point difference if the libre is on the low side and the dexcom on the high side. Personally I have the libre and two traditional meters. Frankly I stopped comparing them because it drives you crazy. One time libre is the lowest and meter 1 in the middle and meter 2 the highest. An hour later it can be reversed... With cgm's most would probably say it's the trend not the reading you should be looking at.
Knowing the libre, the manual scan is a minute value at the time of scanning the. later and better, result on the begin screen (?) is a 15 minute average with should be more accurate. Again, don't know how the dexcom works. But given momentarily scans and error margins they might just be both "right" I'm afraid.
 
I'm currently switching to Dexcom g6. It's now done the two hour warm up and the first test it's taken shocked me. I did a blood test to check. But I still have my libre on for another few hours. Was keeping as a back up whilst I did the switch. A bit gutted to be honest as I've had great results recently and this now throws a shadow over it all. Results I trusted
View attachment 55893View attachment 55894View attachment 55895

Hi,

That looks like an Accu chek Mobile meter. I use one with a Libre 2. At various consultations, I personally found it running (approx.) 15% higher than a standard NHS issue.? & oddly, my HBA1c romped in as 15% lower than the estimation on the ap I use to log my blood tests..

I use a 3rd party app for the CGM experience with my Libre. (Regarding the day to day.) it can be calibrated to my meter. But still gives a useful heads up 10 minutes in advance prior to feeling a low.. The meter does concur.

For me, any how… (staying hydrated, helps with the sensor?)
 
I use a dexcom G6 and find it's normally pretty close to my caresens pro meter (when you allow for a brief time lag). However it can sometimes be unreliable for the first 24 hours, so I try to change it over in the morning (getting false hypo alerts all night is no fun).

You can calibrate it if you need to, but the dexcom rep told me to wait 24 hours and to do it when levels are stable. (And I get the impression that they prefer you not to calibrate).
Dexcom, at least in New Zealand, have a 24/7 phone helpline and should be able to help you with any queries.
 
Thank you everyone for replying. I don't normally do finger prick tests any more, it was only because once the Dexcom was up and running it showed me so high which with my libre trend this week it had not been high, it was a good week for a change. It threw my basal/bolus into doubt where I had just fine tuned it after starting in ozempic. I had been so pleased as since starting in ozempic I have had the most positive experience with my diabetes results in over 30 years of being type 1. Now I'm not sure what's happening. The difference between the 3 over the last couple of hours has remained the same
 
I always calibrate mine, usually when I first start them or within a few hours. I've had some new ones be 3 points off. I calibrate them a couple of times the first day and then I fine tune it the next day. I like mine to end up within .3 points of accuracy in the range I prefer to be at which is 3.9-4.9. I never calibrate it until I am within those numbers. I always expect it will be off by more the higher my numbers are. Do not calibrate them by too many numbers, they go haywire, if it is off by too much pick a number in between and wait a few hours for to do calibration.

I wear a Libre too for swimming as I can scan it in the water and I swim for hours. But as soon as I am done the Libre goes back into my purse and I use my Dexcom. Just switching from the Libre to the Dexcom because of it's accuracy lowered my A1c. You can "soak" them 24 hours before you start one (you apply one but don't start it) and it will be more accurate when you start it.
 
I've used a libre before switching to the Guardian 3 sensor which is fairly similar to dexcom. I had more issues with the libre than I have ever had with the Guardian 3, I found the libre was not accurate fairly often. I have to calibrate the Guardian 3 every 12 hours which definitely keeps it on track and gives the correct readings, from reading above it looks like you can also calibrate the dexcom. I also use the Accu chek mobile blood meter and I have found it reads very similarly to my Guardian 3 sensor more times than it ever did with the Libre. I know they say the Libre can "lag" behind by around 15 minutes. When making the switch from Libre to Guardian 3 the best advice I was given was to completely remove the Libre and stop checking those results as all CGM devices and blood meter devices can give very varied results and it can mess with your head a little bit.
 
I like mine to end up within .3 points of accuracy in the range I prefer to be at which is 3.9-4.9. I never calibrate it until I am within those numbers
Wow @Marie 2, how do you manage to keep your levels between 3.9 and 4.9? I'd be into hypo territory far too often if I tried to do that.
 
@Hopeful34 The things that help me are; I am retired, I have a pump, and a (calibrated) Dexcom. The timing of prebolusing and dosing also play a significant part. I sugar surf which means I respond to my CGM trends.

The book Sugar Surfing by Stephen W. Ponder is wonderful
He also has a website that has a lot of free information and videos on it.
https://www.sugarsurfing.com/
 
My fasting BM was 10 yesterday and 10.5 this morning! :(
 
Hi @megan The first 24 hours are fairly inaccurate and it's a good idea to check with a meter and calibrate it where necesary.
 
Back
Top