What the!

[sheepie123]

Hi Folks,

I ran out of Code Free test strips but I kept two open in the little packet where I keep my lancelets as a spare 2 just encase.

This morning I tested using both of them and the results came out at 17.2 and 23.4

I paniked considering last night I was sitting at 5.2 - I went to my local Pharmacy who told me they
1) dont sell glucose meters
2) dont test blood glucose.

My other half thought she was diabetic several years ago and bought an Aviva Accu-check and I more recently (Several weeks) bought test strips for it. So I hunted the house down to find the checker - I did the test 3 times

Readings (Drum roll) 4.8 and 4.9

I never knew these test strips being exposed caused such a wide swing in results. Interestingly the Code Free reads over by 0.6 mol which is the difference between 5 and 4 in my fasting blood.

So I was pleasently suprised my results were that as its the lowest I've seen them.

 

[Oldvatr]

Hi Folks,

I ran out of Code Free test strips but I kept two open in the little packet where I keep my lancelets as a spare 2 just encase.

This morning I tested using both of them and the results came out at 17.2 and 23.4

I paniked considering last night I was sitting at 5.2 - I went to my local Pharmacy who told me they
1) dont sell glucose meters
2) dont test blood glucose.

My other half thought she was diabetic several years ago and bought an Aviva Accu-check and I more recently (Several weeks) bought test strips for it. So I hunted the house down to find the checker - I did the test 3 times

Readings (Drum roll) 4.8 and 4.9

I never knew these test strips being exposed caused such a wide swing in results. Interestingly the Code Free reads over by 0.6 mol which is the difference between 5 and 4 in my fasting blood.

So I was pleasently suprised my results were that as its the lowest I've seen them.

My Codefree consistently reads 0.6 mmol/l higher than my other meters (NEO, XCEED, Caresense Dual), and in the 2 years I have had it, the only time it has ever read lower then it is due to a misread on one of the meters I use to parallel test. I now rely on this to provide a warning on bum readings.

The literature that comes with the strips does give quite specific notes on handling, esp on keeping the container secure when not in use. My Ketostix has similar storage requirements, and these certainly 'go off' soon after the use by date once the pot has been opened.

Generally I think most meters throw a wobbler when presented with date expired strips, and I would not be surprised to learn that leaving them exposed and loose in the pouch will age them prematurely.

 

[Fruitella]

I was concerned/surprised to go to bed last night on 13.5 and be 12.2 on waking. Worked out that is was use of the Accu-Chek Fastclix that contributed to this. I usually use a deep setting when testing but this had moved somehow from setting 5 to 1. Corrected this back to setting 5 and retested and was a more normal 6.8. Clean hands each time.

 

[Bluetit1802]

I was concerned/surprised to go to bed last night on 13.5 and be 12.2 on waking. Worked out that is was use of the Accu-Chek Fastclix that contributed to this. I usually use a deep setting when testing but this had moved somehow from setting 5 to 1. Corrected this back to setting 5 and retested and was a more normal 6.8. Clean hands each time.

Presumably you had to do a lot of squeezing to get enough blood out when on that shallow setting? The more you squeeze, the more fluid other than blood comes out and this will skew the readings.

 

[Bluetit1802]

@sheepie123

The suppliers of Codefree (Home Health) are most insistent that all strips are kept in the tub in which they came with the lid snapped down firmly. Otherwise they are open to the air and humidity, not to mention contamination and damage.

 

[Dairygrade]

Hi sheepie123 yes all test strips react when exposed left out of their original containers they recommend you take out test strip just before you test but you live and learn all the best.

 

[Oldvatr]

Hi sheepie123 yes all test strips react when exposed left out of their original containers they recommend you take out test strip just before you test but you live and learn all the best.

This is why Freestyle strips from Abbott are individually foil wrapped.

 

[Bluetit1802]

This is why Freestyle strips from Abbott are individually foil wrapped.

and b****y fiddly to use. I gave up after 3. I was causing too much contamination myself, making the foil wraps a waste of time. It's why I use the Accu Chek Mobile. No strips to bother with. They are all secure in a cartridge inserted in the meter. No handling, no storage issues.

 

[berylc]

Presumably you had to do a lot of squeezing to get enough blood out when on that shallow setting? The more you squeeze, the more fluid other than blood comes out and this will skew the readings.

I had no idea about the shallow setting. I use 1 all the time and squeeze if needed. Will go and try a higher number and see if it makes any difference.

 

[berylc]

I was concerned/surprised to go to bed last night on 13.5 and be 12.2 on waking. Worked out that is was use of the Accu-Chek Fastclix that contributed to this. I usually use a deep setting when testing but this had moved somehow from setting 5 to 1. Corrected this back to setting 5 and retested and was a more normal 6.8. Clean hands each time.

I'd no idea that the setting could make a difference. Will change mine from 1 and a lot of squeezing to 5

 

[berylc]

and b****y fiddly to use. I gave up after 3. I was causing too much contamination myself, making the foil wraps a waste of time. It's why I use the Accu Chek Mobile. No strips to bother with. They are all secure in a cartridge inserted in the meter. No handling, no storage issues.

I have a Tee2 that I use during the day and then the Accu-Chek mobile that I use at work and when I go away.

 

[Jordi77]

I have a contour next one meter and it uses code free strips and I have no problems with it and I don't even get 90 days to use a cassette like the accu check mobile as I had one and a load of problems with it so went to bayer for my meter