Meter reading seem wrong

[Matt1212]

Anyone had any experience of widely varying readings on the same meter ?
Test 1 was 1.9 retest 1 minute later is 3.6
I understood a variance of 20% may exist , but the above seems a huge variance

any advice ?

 

[hanadr]

I've never had this, but perhaps there's another explanation. Had you eaten any glucose, in between/ and not washed your hands? I only ever got a "Stupid" reading, when I tested after eating an apple and still had traces of juice on my hand. Then do you have any way of checking the battery? They last ages, but do run out eventually.
Hana

 

[cugila]

Anyone had any experience of widely varying readings on the same meter ?
Test 1 was 1.9 retest 1 minute later is 3.6
I understood a variance of 20% may exist , but the above seems a huge variance

any advice ?

Hi,
Were your hands totally clean and dry ? If so:

First of all are the meter strips within date. Secondly, have you checked with the meter control solutions for accuracy. If they are both accurate then just contact the meter manufacturers helpline for advice as it is well outside the -or- 20% accuracy.

Most meters flash when the battery is low, so if that is the case replace the battery and try again.

 

[noblehead]

Hi Matt,

Good advice so far!

As already said, it is important that you wash your hands before doing a blood test. I know someone who was type 1, tested her blood without washing hands, and the meter reading was 24, so she corrected by giving herself a insulin injection. A few minutes later she remembered she had been handling something sweet previousely, so tested her blood again after washing her hands and got a reading of 6; needless to say she had to eat something to prevent a hypo, it was a lesson learnt!

Should your meter be old, change it for a new meter, most diabetes clinics will provide a new meter free of charge, as the company's that produce the meters make their money on the test strips.

Good luck

Nigel

 

[totsy]

was it on the same finger,
i asked because while experimenting ages ago i found on one hand i was something and the other hand 2 points higher, may try that again and see what happens

 

[IanS]

Anyone had any experience of widely varying readings on the same meter ?
Test 1 was 1.9 retest 1 minute later is 3.6
I understood a variance of 20% may exist , but the above seems a huge variance

any advice ?

With mass produced test strips it is always possible that you get the odd rogue strip that is very wide of the mark (under reading being the most likely). If you get an apparently silly reading test again. Trust the reading that seems the most sensible. If you are still unsure do a third test and settle for the average of the two closest readings.

I have so far had one teststrip that gave an unbelievably low reading and two that have failed to work at all.

IanS