Glucose Readings With 2 Meters Are Different

When I was diagnosed with Type 2 last year, I bought myself a CodeFree monitor to check my bloods. I haven't checked them for a while so I haven't use the monitor for a few months properly. I had my fasting blood test a few weeks ago and my bloods were up so I'm now on Gliclazide twice a day, (half a tablet at 40mg each dose), so I now have a meter from the doctor called Gluco RX Nexus.

I was looking to buy some more test strips but while comparing the monitor's test strip and lancet prices, I found a chat comparing monitor's accuracies so I thought I'd check this myself.

My CodeFree measured 4,8 and the Gluco RX measured 6.0. I'm assuming the Gluco RX is the most accurate? Not sure so I thought I'd ask you guys here what you thought. If I've to pay more for the test strips and lancets, I will but thought I'd ask here first. The doctors will only give me 50 strips a month so I definitely need to stock up as it takes no time to go through that many. Thank you.

Bluetit1802 said:

Why do you assume that? The doctor provided it? Doctors provide meters that they receive free from the manufacturer. The manufacturer then reaps the rewards when you buy the expensive strips. The doctor doesn't provide meters because they are the best/most accurate but because they are free. I use the Codefree and occasionally the Accu-chek Mobile. I sometimes get a peculiar reading I'm not expecting, which I then re-test. It really is not uncommon to find readings of a whole mmol/l or more different - using the same meter! All meters in the UK have to pass the same accuracy test before they can be marketed. I doubt very much any one of them is more accurate than the rest.

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Partly yes but also some reviews for the Gluco RX too online. I thought the expense compared to CodeFree would have given it the edge, thankfully it seems I'm wrong. I'm more than happy to use my CodeFree and cut down on cost but I'm happy to have both, one as a back up if the other isn't working, for eg. I though doctors would only go for the best, given how important the monitors are, although I have noticed that they've changed the brand they use and have become strict on how many strips/lancets you can have.

Robbity said:

What this "guy" thinks is that all you're likely to get from comparing two different brands of meters, are a headache, raised blood pressure and glucose levels.

You're probably never going to get identical readings from your two different meters, because as @DeejayR says no meter's guaranteed to be 100% accurate, and add to that, your blood is also circulating all the time and your glucose levels fluctuating - so while you just may strike lucky and get similar readings from the same drop of blood, meter brand comparison is otherwise a complete waste of time and an exercise in frustration. Instead of looking at individual figures, look at trends and patterns using just one meter - whichever one you're happier with.

Robbity

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Lol, yep, my blood pressure and purse took a nose dive yesterday before coming on here.

I took blood from separate lanced sites the first time round and got the 4.8 and 6.0. I tried it later, from the same lanced site and the readings only varied about 0.5 so I can see what you mean. I'm pleased the CodeFree is okay, great codes for the lancets and strips and you get discounts for buying more than one packs. It doesn't take long to use them up. I've got to get back into the trends and patterns you mentioned here. As I said in my last post, it's nice to have two meters, although I'm planning on sticking to the Codefree for the most part. Glad I asked about it now, blood pressure has come down nicely now

DeejayR said:

I would suggest using one or the other and persevering. I use the CodeFree because it's the cheapest way of keeping tabs on my BS, bearing in mind its accuracy is said to be +/-15%. This gives me a consistent picture over time and since my BS doesn't go very high or low any more I'm more concerned about keeping the upper and lower levels as close together as possible.

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I'll bear in mind the accuracy, thank you. I've been diagnosed over a year but it's still a minefield and it would help if I'd have thought to ask the nurse, rather than go on the assumption, the accuracy is nearly perfect. Hopefully now, the nurse won't be bothered that I'm testing as they've given me a monitor. They're not keen, for some reason, for diabetics to test themselves unless they say so, (or at least that's how it was last year).

Squire Fulwood said:

O ye of great faith.

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Lol, not sure Squire on that one, I have faith in me being an airhead though

Simon Anderson said:

I use the Nexus meter and I think its great no problems but don't compare meters it will drive you mad stick to one and look for trends. If you get a reading that you are not expecting test again or do a control solution test.

I found this video below which makes for interesting viewing

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Thanks for that Simon, the video showed that there isn't much between any of them. The GlucoRx failed twice on me last night but the CodeFree worked fine. Daft I know but given the expense of the strips, I daren't try three times lol. It's worked okay today though. I'll stick to one meter but I'm pleased to have two, just in case