Testing Sites - Varying Numbers!

[warop31]

Hello,

So, I've just did my +2hrs from lunch test, and had a reading of 7.9 from my "favourite" site, which is the lower arm. I decided to try my thumb straight after to see if there was any difference, and I got 9.1! I've been told that testing on the lower arm works just the same as fingers or thumbs - is that not correct.

Neither are brilliant, but I'm hoping my arm reading was the accurate one!?

 

[Bluetit1802]

My instruction book says capillary blood can be taken from finger tip, forearm or upper arm.

Even if you test consecutively from the same place or even use the same drop of blood, you will get different numbers. Our meters are only required to be accurate to within 15% at 95% of the time. For those of us not on insulin it isn't crucial. All we can do is look for trends. I suggest you stick to one place. With differing numbers I average them for my own personal records.

 

[donnellysdogs]

Didn't realise forearm or upper arm... I just went by the nice guidelines of the 4 fingers on a hand.

Incidentally had a **** time on Saturday/Sunday with combo pump... Ended up very high in matter of 2 hours. Seriously ill... Anyway, am ok now but ambulance was called and they tested using their True stix... Eventually their last reading before leaving me was 11.9.. My combo meter showed 15.9 and the libre sensor was showing 14.9.

I know some True strips have been recalled but amazing that theirs was so different to both my meter and sensor.

Have got a new combo meter coming tomorrow with replacement tubes and cannulas. When I was priming at 3am Mon morn the set was out of body and it was still occluding with everything new. USA said they would replace everything.

Ambulancemen accidentally tested on my left hand... (I was not fully with it!!) - any ideas from anybody how to stop this happening with anymore ambulances if they were called?

First time for ambulance for a hyper in 30+ years.... Hubby panicked as I've had such a rough time over last year....

They didn't take BP either cos of sensor in right arm and not allowed to do BP on left due to the lymph node removal?

Sorry, just seeing alternative sites for testing just reminded me of my limited test areas and the happenings at weekend...

 

[warop31]

My instruction book says capillary blood can be taken from finger tip, forearm or upper arm.

Even if you test consecutively from the same place or even use the same drop of blood, you will get different numbers. Our meters are only required to be accurate to within 15% at 95% of the time. For those of us not on insulin it isn't crucial. All we can do is look for trends. I suggest you stick to one place. With differing numbers I average them for my own personal records.

Thanks again. Just done the maths and it's certainly pushing the 15% accuracy to the absolute limit there!!

 

[Bluetit1802]

Thanks again. Just done the maths and it's certainly pushing the 15% accuracy to the absolute limit there!!

Thanks again. Just done the maths and it's certainly pushing the 15% accuracy to the absolute limit there!!

Yes indeed, but 5% of the time they can be outside this requirement. Then you have to take into account the odd rogue strip (we all get those) and human error, Sad but true.

 

[ally1]

I didn't, t realise can use my arm.
I always use my fingers

 

[catherinecherub]

This site explains how the fingers give a more accurate reading.

http://diabetesdigest.com/glucose-monitoring-alternate-site/

A LAG TIME

The main concern is that there is a lag time in the flow of blood to sites other than the hands, such as the forearm and thigh. Although the lag time is short, it can cause blood test results to be less accurate when blood glucose levels are changing rapidly. This might happen during a low blood glucose period or just after eating or exercising vigorously. However, for most people, blood glucose levels change rapidly only a very small percentage of time during the day.

This lag time and possible loss of accuracy with alternate site tests is caused by the slower flow of blood in these parts of the body. The blood flows a bit faster in the fingers and hands because there are more capillaries (small blood vessels) than in alternate sites. These capillaries have a more direct connection to arteries and veins. The faster blood flow to the hands and fingers means that blood glucose gets to your fingertips faster. The results you get when using your fingers provide a number that is closer to your real-time blood glucose levels. The results from the alternate sites may have a short delay, or lag time. Again, this delay does not affect the accuracy most of the time. But the lag time may cause your reading to be higher or lower when your blood glucose is changing quickly.

 

[warop31]

This site explains how the fingers give a more accurate reading.

http://diabetesdigest.com/glucose-monitoring-alternate-site/

A LAG TIME

The main concern is that there is a lag time in the flow of blood to sites other than the hands, such as the forearm and thigh. Although the lag time is short, it can cause blood test results to be less accurate when blood glucose levels are changing rapidly. This might happen during a low blood glucose period or just after eating or exercising vigorously. However, for most people, blood glucose levels change rapidly only a very small percentage of time during the day.

This lag time and possible loss of accuracy with alternate site tests is caused by the slower flow of blood in these parts of the body. The blood flows a bit faster in the fingers and hands because there are more capillaries (small blood vessels) than in alternate sites. These capillaries have a more direct connection to arteries and veins. The faster blood flow to the hands and fingers means that blood glucose gets to your fingertips faster. The results you get when using your fingers provide a number that is closer to your real-time blood glucose levels. The results from the alternate sites may have a short delay, or lag time. Again, this delay does not affect the accuracy most of the time. But the lag time may cause your reading to be higher or lower when your blood glucose is changing quickly.

Thanks. I think I'm going to try testing on two sites at the same time a few times, and it will be interesting to see the outcome. Strangely, when I started this testing regime only a week ago, I began noting whether it was a finger or forearm test, but stopped doing it after a couple of days. It will be a bit annoying if the improved figures over the last 2-3 days haven't been as good as I'd thought as they were taken from the forearm, but I guess the important thing is to know what's what, as accurately as possible.

 

[Jaylee]

Hello,

So, I've just did my +2hrs from lunch test, and had a reading of 7.9 from my "favourite" site, which is the lower arm. I decided to try my thumb straight after to see if there was any difference, and I got 9.1! I've been told that testing on the lower arm works just the same as fingers or thumbs - is that not correct.

Neither are brilliant, but I'm hoping my arm reading was the accurate one!?

Hi,

I keep harping on about this.. Lol

There is a little bit of "lagg" with BS testing. A "snapshot" in time... up to 20 minutes back in time..? (I suppose like counting the rings on a tree or reading the environment hundreds of years back in ice?) Due to circulation on the blood in the body. ( in short.) one of the big issues with certain Ds is hypoglycaemia. They test & find they are not rising at all or fast enough after eating a certain amount of carbs. Then wonder why they have gone too high later because of the panic of the readings, then over treated...? Still more reliable than a pee test though.! Lol