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Type 2 Variance In Bs Reading Taken At Same Time

N

nsh2111

Well-Known Member
Messages
321
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I use a code free meter. While I didnt had any issue but lately I noticed that the readings taken at same time vary too much.ie more than 15% tolerance.

e.g. this morning just now I checked.

First reading = 8.0
Was not convinced as no reason for high so checked with different finger = 6.8
Checked again as was curious = 7.6

Each time a different finger. I did wash hands after waking up before checking.

Not sure what is wrong and which reading to believe. Anyone else see this?


N
 
Yes i have and usually take the lowest one .lol. I had 8.7 one morning and did it again it was 7.8. Drop of a whole point. Actually i have had that a few times now. Once it was a drop of 2 points. weird. But someone pointed out to me that none is accurate. But gives you a clue if you get my meaning. Others will be able to explain it better i think. I don't worry about it anymore though but use to.
 
Like the advice of using lowest value

However It puts a doubt in mind as to what really is my BS and whether something i had last night has anything to do with it.
 
In a word, yes. I had 3 meters at one stage (at diagnosis they kept handing them over), when I had what I thought was a dodgy reading I tested with all 3 of them and they were all different by 2 whole points. Even now using the same one I can get very different readings within a minute, (anything up to 1.5 difference).
 
I did a test using both my meters and the same drop of blood - one was 5.6 (perfect) and the other read 7.6 - a level at which I’d correct with insulin. All good fun, isn’t it?
 
Personally I think the 15% variance is quite acceptable, when you consider most home testing meters are cheap bits of kit that basically measure the electric current produced by a bit of cardboard with a tiny amount of chemical (enzyme) on one end and an electrode on the other, costing about 20p each.
 
Meter readings can vary a lot with a single drop of blood. I only test once and go with that reading (plus my poor fingers would suffer more with doing 2 or 3 samples every time). Stick to 1 test for your sanity. If you start using 2 meters and a few samples you will get very confused. A reading of 7 with a +/- variance of 15% is anywhere between 6 and 8.
 
It happens all the time. It even happened with my last HbA1c test - same blood sample, 2 different labs, 4 points difference. Blood glucose measurement is not an exact science.

I don't think it is a good idea to take the lowest for your personal stats. It can lead to a false sense of security, and you have no idea which of the readings is the nearest to the true reading. Safer, in my opinion, to either take the highest or average them. I average mine. Meters do throw out rogue readings, and there will be rogue low ones as well as rogue high ones. This is a good reason to double check any unexpected reading, whether it be high or low.
 
Actually @Bluetit1802 In away that's rather reassuring as when i got my latest results at 6.0 gone up from 5.8 i was so disappointed. Who knows, maybe it was out just like the meters at times as i did nothing different. Anyway i can hope. lol.
 
Glad it's not just me. Are CGM more reliable? They are expensive and I am not sure how reliable they are to justify the cost
 
Your blood is circulating, and with it the amount of glucose it contains at any given point or time , so you're not necessarily going to get the same (or similar!) readings from different fingers or tests or even the same finger and drop of blood. That difference is basically how you get your pre and post meal levels. To me these differences seem quite logical and it's not really anything to get yourself in a big bother over... However if you get an unexpected and /or inconsistent reading, and re-test with clean hands and see a big difference, you do need to consider what may have caused it - and remember that all sorts of things can cause unexpected readings - stress, meds, illness, pain, mucky fingers, the odd duff test strip, etc so don't necessarily blame your meter...

Robbity
 
same thing today. 3 readings from 3 pricks @6:30 am.

(palm) 8.5, 7.6 (finger) and 7.4 (another finger)

too random for my liking.
 
nsh2111 said:
same thing today. 3 readings from 3 pricks @6:30 am.

(palm) 8.5, 7.6 (finger) and 7.4 (another finger)

too random for my liking.
Click to expand...

The 8.5 is a bit high compared with the other two, but the other two are virtually the same. Why did you use your palm?
 
I personally think it's a poor way of managing anyone who is on insulin. We rely heavily on those readings and dose ourselves accordingly. As Mel said, if its above 7 many people give themselves insulin, if we are saying the reading can actually be as low as 5, then a dose of insulin could cause a hypo. It really seems risky to self medicate based on little more than a guess. I know they haven't found a cure for diabetes but you'd think there was a more accurate way of measuring blood levels than a little machine and a pricker done at various times throughout the day.
 

If you have a Genteel tester, they are wonderful give you 6 options of testing grades, also you can test anywhere you prefer, finger, arm, 2cm above knee, palm hand and testing zones as I experience no matter where are all consistent. Added bonus as this is suction method of testing, it is painless you just hear a click.......

May be of interest of knowledge of a new tool to consider. Just google Genteel.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
The 8.5 is a bit high compared with the other two, but the other two are virtually the same. Why did you use your palm?
Click to expand...
no real reason. just thought blood is same all over body so should make no difference.
 
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