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Frustrated with different meter readings..

J

Justine18

Member
I have been having problems recently trying to get my BS under control so my DSN recommended I try the Abbott Insulinx, I have been in the past using the Abbott Optium. I started using it this week and it's been great at correcting my doses when i'm running high, however yesterday morning, did my usual morning check and on the Insulinx I was registering 3.9 but I didnt feel hypo (which for me is unusual) and so I tried my old Optium meter which said I was 4.6, confused.. yes ! I have tested a few times now with both meters are the difference can be up to 0.9. To me this is the difference between having a hypo or not and as I drive alot it also bring into doubt which one is right as I need to ensure I always drive over 5.

I rang Abbott today to question the variance and was told that from meter to meter this is quite normal.

I found this information incredibly frustrating as i'm really trying to get my BS under control, even to the point where i'm now following Dr Bersteins advice for maintaining normaly BS by eating a low carb diet, i've been running over 10 for a few weeks now so I really do want to have better management of my BS.

Does anyone have any advice on this matter - if i'm missing the point and there is a meter out there that can give me more accurate results then I would love to know, any info/advice appreciated.

Thanks,
Justine
:thumbup:
 
Hi,

Having same sort of problem with my optium xceed. I'm double testing all the time just now!

Had a 8.3-4.5 swing earlier this week.

Really frustrating
 
Thanks for that Roberto, at least I know i'm not the only one who's having the same frustration :?

I know different meters can register different readings and that you should always take blood from a different finger, but not particularly helpful when the swings are this much, as it's the difference between being hypo or not which is in my mind dangerous.

I've even read up on the 'Think like a pancreas book' and there's no recommendations in there as to which meter works best. Looking at Insulinx and the Optium I feel more comfortable with my Optium meter, however have now received the Onetouch Verio IQ so may give that a whirl too !

Good luck and hopefully we may get some useful advice on here.
 
Sorry, bit it is best to keep yourself with one meter.. And depending on what you are happier to go with.. Either the one that reads higher (that way, you may get a nice suprise with your hba1c being liwer than you expected..

Or... Going with the one that reads lower... ( much better if you are a driver and testing each time you get into the car).

I wind myself up over my cgm ging me lower readings than my blood meter... Massively different ones... But the cgm that I wear all the time tells me I am about a 1-2 points minimu lower than my blood. However, i know that when it shows 6 or above when driving that I am totally safe. Also, during the daytime knowing I am higher than the cgm says helps me. The only real frustration is my night readings between the two, and these are way out...

But it is a case of accepting that one machine will be best used for each individual person, one may prefer the one giving higher readings, aother person will prefer the lower readings. Accept one, otherwise you'll go stir crazy..
 
I have 3 optium exceeds, and when my BS went crazy began to wonder if the meters were reading high. I ordered a free control solution from Abbott and checked them with the same solutions and of the same foil wrap of strips.

The 2 meters that are reguarly in use read about the same bar about 0.1 on both the high and low control solutions. The meter that has been stuck in the drawer and not used was a fair way out on the high reading.

Bayer kindly sent me a contour next USB meter and when I had a low reading of 3.5 on the exceed I did a retest on the next meter and it was exactly the same reading. :)

May be the lack of use has caused the spare meter to deteriate over the years as all 3 are around 8 years old.
 
Thanks all for your input, and Sam thank you so much for this link, that's so useful.

I am still relatively new to type 1 so learning as I go along, but definately becoming more of an expert now !

Poor woman at Abbott getting an earful today, I just got so annoyed at someone telling me that the huge variance was normal when to me it's the difference between having a hypo or not, driving under 5 which is dangerous or just running at high sugars which could be under better control simply by knowing where you stand, it's funny how my whole life has come to depend on a needle and a meter.. :|
 
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