Weird BS meter readings

I got my GlucoMen GM meter to-day and it has been giving higher readings than the Codefree as well Lucy. In fact it is giving readings higher than when I was first diagnosed and eating low fat/high carbs. I do think it is the meter/strips rather than a rise in actual levels so I will not be using it again until I have the benefit of my next HbA1c result to reassure me.....or not :?

I've heard on several forums concerns over the SDcodefree meter, but with saying that Lucy the difference in your two meters would be what you'd expect if you tried as it's would be within acceptable tolerances between meters, and then doesn't matter how fast you get the blood sample, it will be slightly different..

I always keep to one meter for testing and have keep a spare for back-up... when I get the new meter I always compare the readings, and always use the meter with that reads slightly higher!

As I said, I've heard complaints about accuracy of the readings of this meter, and must admit that I wouldn't like to use one as I use insulin, as the variations a too much askew..

Recently I got a Bayer Contour through the post, I have no idea why, or how they got my address, but as it came with 50 strips and a few lancents, I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. In my rather {stupid} attempt to see which meter was most accurate, I took a test with my SD codefree, the Accu chek I was prescribed, and the Contour. All were different, and like you I used the same drop of blood.

What did surprise me, the Contour and SD Codefree, were only .1 difference, while the Accu chek was minus 1. something 3 (I think). So which is right? Going by my HbA1c, the Accu chek is nearest, but I have had raised figures since coming off the Newcastle Diet, although they are much more stable now than they were, and are coming down nicely again.

I use the Accu chek, no idea if it's right or not, but I get 50 strips on prescription, and I just bought a job lot, so have loads of strips for the Accu Chek. I will have to wait until September/October for my next HbA1c to be sure. Either way, my results are quite safe, so I refuse to get frustrated trying to work them out.

Use your SD Lucy, the figures look better. :lol:

jopar said:

I've heard on several forums concerns over the SDcodefree meter, but with saying that Lucy the difference in your two meters would be what you'd expect if you tried as it's would be within acceptable tolerances between meters, and then doesn't matter how fast you get the blood sample, it will be slightly different..

I always keep to one meter for testing and have keep a spare for back-up... when I get the new meter I always compare the readings, and always use the meter with that reads slightly higher!

As I said, I've heard complaints about accuracy of the readings of this meter, and must admit that I wouldn't like to use one as I use insulin, as the variations a too much askew..

Click to expand...

jopar we are discussing the Glucomen meter and as we are type 2's don't need quite the same amount of accuracy in our meters as a Type 1. We accept that the current strips for the Codefree are reading higher than previous batches but the Glucomen GM is reading appreciably higher still. With strips costing up to £20 less for 50 the Codefree is still looking like the better option of the two meters to me by far.

catza said:

jopar said:

I've heard on several forums concerns over the SDcodefree meter, but with saying that Lucy the difference in your two meters would be what you'd expect if you tried as it's would be within acceptable tolerances between meters, and then doesn't matter how fast you get the blood sample, it will be slightly different..

I always keep to one meter for testing and have keep a spare for back-up... when I get the new meter I always compare the readings, and always use the meter with that reads slightly higher!

As I said, I've heard complaints about accuracy of the readings of this meter, and must admit that I wouldn't like to use one as I use insulin, as the variations a too much askew..

Click to expand...

jopar we are discussing the Glucomen meter and as we are type 2's don't need quite the same amount of accuracy in our meters as a Type 1. We accept that the current strips for the Codefree are reading higher than previous batches but the Glucomen GM is reading appreciably higher still. With strips costing up to £20 less for 50 the Codefree is still looking like the better option of the two meters to me by far.

Click to expand...

I quite agree Catza. I invested in my own SD on diagnosis, and was more than happy with it, it did what I needed it to do. The only time I realised there may be a problem was when my Accu Chek arrived and there is quite a large variance in the two figures. But My SD was perfect for me while working out spikes after meals, which is why I invested in it.

I just started using my SD codefree, but for the last 6 weeks was using the Contour, the SD reads consistently 15% higher than the Contour readings so I just adjust the SD figure now to suit, or I would have had a marked jump in BG on my charts. But like you say, my HBA1C will confirm which is the the more accurate of the two meters, and the readings on both are all within acceptable limits. So I'm not too stressed as yes the cost difference is massive.