Glucometer inaccuracy

[winglets]

I'm a non-diabetic (as far as I know) but wanted to test my levels as I plan to get a HbA1C test soon along with my other bloods so I figured these readings might give me a prediction as to what figure that would be.

Anyway I bought this Vivacheck meter here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08L9FDDDT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
noting its proclaimed high accuracy level and ease of use.

Well it's easy to use for sure, painless etc. however accurate, it certainly is not. I had some initial readings on the first two days which I thought were fine as I only tested once at a given time but then reading some of the reviews back they mentioned how some readings were inaccurate, say when you tested multiple times within a short period of time. So I thought I would put it to the test myself and to my surprise that's exactly what happened.

This morning my fasting glucose level was 5.5 (it was 4.7 the morning before). It was 5.4 last night post prandial (2 hours) after quite a large carb meal so the fact that it went to 5.5. after not eating or drinking anything which I found a bit odd.

Anyway back to this morning and I checked at 08:15, it was 5.5, checked 23 mins later, it was down to 4.3, checked 6 mins later it was 4.8!! (I tried to upload the photos but server isn't allowing me to do so).

I'm no doctor but this can't be right! I'm guessing my level is around those figures but my question is there a decent glucometer that is actually ACCURATE!? I realise none of them are 100%.

 

[Rokaab]

I'm no doctor but this can't be right! I'm guessing my level is around those figures but my question is there a decent glucometer that is actually ACCURATE!? I realise none of them are 100%.

All meters in the UK have to be within 15% accuracy (to be considered accurate), all three of those results are fairly close anyways and your blood sugar does not just stay completely stable anyways, it may well have been shuffling slightly

 

[catinahat]

All meters have to comply to the same accuracy standard of -/+15% for 90%of the test's. The only way to get a truly accurate result would be to have a blood sample tested at a lab, but by the time you had the results back your glucose levels would have changed.

I checked at 08:15, it was 5.5, checked 23 mins later, it was down to 4.3, checked 6 mins later it was 4.8!!

Our glucose levels are changing all of the time, they are not static and will alter over a 30 min period. All of these readings are within the 15% so you know that's where they were at that time.

the fact that it went to 5.5. after not eating or drinking anything which I found a bit odd.

It's not just food that affects our glucose levels, stress, exercise, quality of sleep, hormones are among many other things that can influence them. Look up dawn phenomenon for a more detailed explanation.

 

[Deleted member 527103]

@winglets - our blood sugar levels change due to many things beyond what we eat so I am not surprised by a difference of 1.5 over 30 minutes.
Also consider meters only need to be accurate with 15% and you find it is very rare to get two identical readings one straight after the other.

 

[winglets]

Ok that's very interesting, I did not know this. 15% difference either side can be quite significant but I'm guessing these readings do give you some idea at least, like a ballpark figure.
Thank you for your responses.

 

[Member496333]

As others have already said, glucose ebbs and flows all the time. That aside, the most accurate home testing I’m aware of is the Contour Next range. Always found all of the Next meters to be repeatable within 0.2 from moment to moment, but the strips are also among the most expensive.

 

[searley]

Home meter are not 100 percent accurate there is a tollerance of about 15% and there are several other factors that can have an effect like contamination etc

You can also find if you take 2 readings one after the other that you get a different reading... this is all normal.. and all good enough to indicate a high/low/normal level

 

[jjraak]

Hi @winglets .

Good on you for trying to gain a decent level of control by actually monitoring .

As for the reading accuracies.

As said all are out by up to 15% yet still comply with regulations

Many on here rate & require a high level of accuracy.
(A valid request)

For myself, I took a broader view

Rather then pay over the odds for that accuracy a few others required,
( which given your own observations aren't necessarily guaranteed)

I took a step back and asked myself what I needed from each strip tested

And a ballpark figure, ( a measurement)
I could use was a given
Then it was the ease of use (pain etc)
And more importantly I guess over years , the strip costs.

Hence I chose the earlier codefree model.
( Have since moved over the the navii, with better accuracy, less blood required, etc)
At a similar cost base

Was the codefree the most accurate, arguably not,
but when they are all 'out' by a certain amount, is that such a biggee ?

Not for me.

If it's out by a given margin, compared to the top brand, then I figure it will be out by a given margin each test.

And all I needed was a ballpark measure,
As close to correct as feasible re all my criteria above.
And the codefree (then the Navii)
gave me that.

6 months monitoring of "eating to the meter".
Using a "poorly rated by some" meter,
Which met its job role beautully.

And got me from 58 HBA1c to 40 HBA1c.

Now while I hear the argument for greater accuracy, for me that rather comes back to "what does it benefit me re costs"

I don't have the best hearing (63 nearly )

So would I get the same benifits of paying top dollar for state of the art speakers/ headphones ...as others ?
Or 4k TV or whatever is this year's fav flavour for optical viewing...?

It's arguable but my guess is no, and then we're back to
"You pays your money
& Makes your choice"

I'm a simple guy
The meter made sense
The maths made sense
The results prove it worked

I see too many get hooked up on what I think are miniscule differences in the great scheme of things .

Keep checking , as you are.

The advice I'd give to anyone new to this
Or trying to prevent slipping over into a DX of T2D.

Find a meter that works for you.
As outlined above
Use it often.

You seem to have found yours.
Use it wisely, accept it's not made by NASA, because it just doesn't need that level of over engineering, at elaborate cost to be still be useful

Keep the readings where You are happy
& Make changes when warned

Best of luck NOT joining me and many others.
(Wish I'd been as sensible)

Good luck on the journey

 

[Alexandra100]

It was 5.4 last night post prandial (2 hours) after quite a large carb meal

@winglets, testing 2 hours post prandial is a useful starting point, but there is no guarantee that one's highest p-p bg will occur exactly then. Especially if the meal was large, fatty or full of protein, or if you personally have a tendency to slow digestion. There is even a digestive problem called gastroparesis which can cause food to stay in the stomach at worst almost indefinitely or at best longer than one would prefer. So if your bg has not risen, or even has fallen, 2 hours after your meal, I suggest you test again at 3 hours, 4 hours etc., until the numbers have risen and begin to fall again. Personally, it is quite usual for me not to see the peak of the p-p rise until 4 hours after my meal.

 

[Outlier]

I was concerned recently about a few days of slightly raised BG readings when I had stuck rigidly to keto, wasn't any more stressed than usual, and wasn't unwell. Then I changed the batteries in my meter and my readings are much more the way I like them.

You probably already knew this, but I am quite new to BG readings.

 

[Jaylee]

I'm a non-diabetic (as far as I know) but wanted to test my levels as I plan to get a HbA1C test soon along with my other bloods so I figured these readings might give me a prediction as to what figure that would be.

Anyway I bought this Vivacheck meter here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08L9FDDDT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
noting its proclaimed high accuracy level and ease of use.

Well it's easy to use for sure, painless etc. however accurate, it certainly is not. I had some initial readings on the first two days which I thought were fine as I only tested once at a given time but then reading some of the reviews back they mentioned how some readings were inaccurate, say when you tested multiple times within a short period of time. So I thought I would put it to the test myself and to my surprise that's exactly what happened.

This morning my fasting glucose level was 5.5 (it was 4.7 the morning before). It was 5.4 last night post prandial (2 hours) after quite a large carb meal so the fact that it went to 5.5. after not eating or drinking anything which I found a bit odd.

Anyway back to this morning and I checked at 08:15, it was 5.5, checked 23 mins later, it was down to 4.3, checked 6 mins later it was 4.8!! (I tried to upload the photos but server isn't allowing me to do so).

I'm no doctor but this can't be right! I'm guessing my level is around those figures but my question is there a decent glucometer that is actually ACCURATE!? I realise none of them are 100%.

Hi @winglets ,

I wish you all the very best regarding your intended HbA1c test.

To be quit frank with you. The meter I use & log into an app along with other T1 related data, normally does the maths on my A1c a good 15% higher than what comes back from the lab?

I see blood testing as a "snapshot in time?" Tests from different fingers or even various test on the same finger in a short space of time..
I draw the analogy a little like standing on a bridge in the same spot, you see variousness from clear water, floating Coke bottles, & even the odd duck?

Try not to let it cause anxiety.. Good luck with your test!