Trueresult twist and odd results

Test once, and if you get a really random and unexpected result, then retest. If you get a normal or expected result, don't retest.
ISO guidelines state that the glucose monitors should an accuracy of +/- 20%. So if your blood was really 5.7, then your machine result could be 4.6 to 6.8.

Soupladel said:

It would be fair to say then that home testing is more a guide than an exact science given variance in the results?

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Thats exactly what it is Soupladel, a reasonably accurate guide

The HbA1c is a more accurate measurement but even that is just an average of your total control over an 8 to 12 week period but doesnt show any highs or lows. A random blood test taken at a hospital or a clinic where the blood is analysed professionally in a lab will give an accurate measurement "at that time" but it even that doesnt show whether its going up coming down or is reasonably stable, there are so many things that can have an affect on our blood glucose levels that its fair to say that they are changing all the time.

The things that affect our bg levels include:
Food
Exercise
Hormones and chemical signals released naturally by our bodies
Colds, infections or being generally run down
Some prescription medications
Stress
Alcohol
General mood
etc etc.

The best we can do is try to keep our highs down as best we can and try to attain a reasonably consistent HbA1c result.

Home test meters are an asset to all diabetics as without them its impossible to work out the portions sizes of carbs that we can eat that will not raise our bg levels too high, but they are never going to give a completely accurate measurement in much the same way that the speedometers in our cars are never completely accurate but will give a good indication if we are speeding or not.

Test carefully before meals and record the level then check again 2 hours after finishing your meal and record the level again, if too high reduce the portions of carbs you ate with that meal the next time you eat it and record it again and again tweaking the carbs till you are happy. Do this over a year or so and you will know roughly what you can eat and in what portion sizes.

Remember that one high postprandial reading may be reading a little over or under so dont always rely on just one test for any one meal, only by repeating tests can you be sure that you get the portions right.