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Had to test 4 times this morning !

Patrick66

Well-Known Member
Messages
978
Location
Dorset UK
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
People. Noise. Swearing. Many foods.
My first reading was 7.4 and I knew that was too high so put it down to a rogue strip..

Next reading was still a suspiciously high 6.7

Waited another 5 minutes 5.7

Waited another 2 minutes 4.6

Monitor is new, battery is fine and I know what I ate yesterday was very little in terms of carbs. It does make me question what’s right though although I can easily discount the highest as I haven’t measured over 6.0 in a couple of months now..

I’m tempted to take an average of the lowest two ...so, 5.2 or thereabouts, but it is frustrating when 4 tests within a short time throw up such differing results.
 
Have you tested that pot of strips with a control solution?

I do get the feeling from what people experience with their meters that there are some pretty cheap and unreliable systems out there. The most repeatable I’ve found is the Contour Next.
 
I have Jim.

I think there are perhaps more rogue strips than I anticipated which can be a nuisance. My monitor came with good reviews and wasn’t cheap but you can always get the one that plays up a little.
 

Hi Patrick, over the last 2 years I have used a variety of meters (none of the cheap ones although the Docs have just provided one that looks cheap to me but apparently is 'a much better one' with cheaper strips).
I have had some odd results so have tested 3 different meters at the same time, same fingers, different fingers and so on. What I can tell you is that EVERY single reading differed from the others, sometimes a 2 point difference. I have used the same meter and done 3 tests with it, sometimes those tests provided similar readings, sometimes a massive difference.
Even the small print that comes with the meters state that a difference of up to 2 points comes within the accuracy rules, and it also states that anything towards the lower or higher end of the range are less accurate. So, if you hover around 4, maybe 5 the less accurate it will be.
 
I tested again, 5.2 so my average from earlier now looks about right. I’m usually in the 4.1 to 5.5 range so I thought something was a little off especially given recent food and drink intake.
I control tested the strips again to check they were okay and they are but now I feel like a pincushion I need a lie down lol.
 
How do you cope with the cost of the strips and lancets for this meter? They're so expensive (although I admit the meter itself is really good).
 
LindsayJane said:
How do you cope with the cost of the strips and lancets for this meter? They're so expensive (although I admit the meter itself is really good).
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I only test once or twice a day and probably only every other day on average, sometimes every third day, so it’s not too bad really. I never use my meter for verifying food. Only for fasting and sometimes before my evening meal, as these data are more valuable to me than postprandial. For me it’s just a means of keeping my toe in the water and checking that I’m maintaining my insulin sensitivity. Actually the frequency of testing is probably declining more and more, as it’s just not as necessary for me now
 
I test three times a day at the moment, sometimes more but this is as a reassurance more than anything. I'm not yet far enough into my journey to be knowledgeable enough about my diet and BS levels. Getting there though!
 
LindsayJane said:
I test three times a day at the moment, sometimes more but this is as a reassurance more than anything. I'm not yet far enough into my journey to be knowledgeable enough about my diet and BS levels. Getting there though!
Click to expand...

Absolutely. And what a fun journey it is! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my path to recovery. Feel like a new man and enjoy food more than I ever had.
 
Jim Lahey said:
Absolutely. And what a fun journey it is! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my path to recovery. Feel like a new man and enjoy food more than I ever had.
Click to expand...
I love the research and equally I quite enjoy challenging current medical opinion. So much of it seems logical to me though (carbs and sugar are the same, so if diabetics shouldn't have sugar, why are we encouraged to have carbs?) and I don't miss roast potatoes any more, because I value my eyesight more! All power to your elbow Mr L. Let's both contine to have long and successful jorneys.
 
It seems to be the day for it. I had a blood draw this morning that oddly included a fasting glucose as well as hb1ac. So I tested on rising as usual (typical mid 6) and at 1100 at the draw (a smidge higher but typical as I was still fasting and don’t fall again til mid afternoon unless I eat).

Then I was very very naughty and for the first time since diagnosis ate a normal chocolate bar (a boost!). I misread the label and thought it wasn’t as bad as it was. So then 2hrs later I face up to my misdemeanour (actually felony) and was shocked to get a 5.1 instead of the double figures expected. So an immediate retest showed a 5.2. Confused I continued my day. But half hr later retested and got a 4.7. Followed another half hour later by a 3.7. I rarely see a 4 and have never seen a 3. I felt totally normal btw and take no meds. Another half hour and I get a 4.4. I was home by now and checked on a spare different make meter and got a 5 so they weren’t totally off the wall readings.

Absolutely no idea what to make of it. Massive overreaction of insulin to my evil boost bar? i guess it shows it can work but I’d rather not have all that insulin swimming around in me nor the glucose. No more boosts for me. Still can’t quite believe I ate it if I’m honest.
 


Not sure whether it helps but a week or so I had a similar experience, 7ish on waking, then 6, then 5, then 4ish ( normal FBG for me) each a couple of minutes apart. I'm very happy with accuracy and precision of my meter so figured it was me.
The only thing I could put it down to was that my alarm had woken me with a huge start that day, pounding heart etc, which is unusual for me as I usually wake 5 minutes before it goes off. I guess it was a simple fight or flight response to the shock, a bolus of glucose to enable my body to respond to that shock. I can't think of anything else and it certainly came down quickly enough.
 

No the end of the world is it. It’s just a chocolate bar...
 
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