Erratic Readings

[i_love_cake]

My FBS this morning was 214 and 273 on two different fingers. I've been on Metformin 500 mg BID and Glipizide XL 5 mg QD for about a week. My FBS yesterday was 141 yesterday. I use the Abbott regular Freestyle. I called the customer service line today and they are sending me a new Freedom along with 50 strips for free by Tuesday.

**** these meters!! Anyone have issues with their Freestyle?

[seacomp]

Such variations are not uncommon with these meters; they are just not that accurate. Look thru the threads i monitoring and you will much discussion about this.
Some meters are more accurate than others. I'm comfortable with the one I use (Acsenia Contour), but the opinions in the forum vary greatly.

[mids1999]

The difference between 214 and 273 is less then 20% error and well within the tolerances the meter manufacturers allow.
I have been told the allowable error rate is around 20-25%.

In these instances I usually average the two numbers and bolus accordingly.

[i_love_cake]

Well, I received my Freedom (with 50 strips) today. It's lightweight and easy to use.

Am I the only one that needs a larger blood sample than the "pinhead" amount the company states? I usually need a sample twice the size of the "pinhead." Sometimes when the sample is not large enough I get the ER 1 message. :hmmmm2:

[Ronin]

I share "Cake's" confusion. Although my specific numbers weren't as high, it was a bit baffling. Usually I do my FBG after I've been awake for about a half hour. I was a bit more tired than usual but got the coffee started, setup breakfast for us, and then I started feelling really awake -- like almost a rush of energy. Then I did the test 122! That is high for my FBG range which is usually between 95 and 110. Then I did it again on another finger, now it's 112, then two more tries both of which registered 103. I have re-tested before but never had such swings within a ten minute span of time.

Perhaps I had a small liver dump, whatever. It did get my attention.

[ant hill]

My FBS this morning was 214 and 273 on two different fingers.

One finger sweeter than the other? Maybe. But then i had an issue of enorus reading and whashed my hands and have a more ledgable reading.:whistling

[grace girl]

No meter is 100% accurate. I get different readings from different hands, different fingers...and occasionally I've gotten different readings from the same drop of blood. I just go with the one that seems the most reasonable to me.

[Shotokan]

I share "Cake's" confusion. Although my specific numbers weren't as high, it was a bit baffling. Usually I do my FBG after I've been awake for about a half hour. I was a bit more tired than usual but got the coffee started, setup breakfast for us, and then I started feelling really awake -- like almost a rush of energy. Then I did the test 122! That is high for my FBG range which is usually between 95 and 110. Then I did it again on another finger, now it's 112, then two more tries both of which registered 103. I have re-tested before but never had such swings within a ten minute span of time.

Perhaps I had a small liver dump, whatever. It did get my attention.

That's about par for the course. Meters aren't much more accurate than that. Also, your BGs were trending downward steadily. The pattern doesn't look random.

[Larry H.]

I have only had my meter for 5 days now, and yesterday I was suspicious the first reading wasn't right as the one after eating was way lower. Now this morning the first reading was 145. a number I have never had fasting. I washed my hands again and redid the test, it was 116. I too am going to call the meter company which is made for Medicine Shop. I have no insurance and even though there strips are cheaper than some, I hate to need two or more for every test. I do have trouble still getting enough blood to keep the meter from erroring..

[sweetcheeks]

One finger sweeter than the other? Maybe. But then i had an issue of enorus reading and whashed my hands and have a more ledgable reading.:whistling

i use alcohol swabs as much as possible, you just have to let the alcohol dry tho, there inexpensive less than 2 dollars mostly for 100, and you can take them in your meter case, for the times when you dont have water and soap available

I have only had my meter for 5 days now, and yesterday I was suspicious the first reading wasn't right as the one after eating was way lower. Now this morning the first reading was 145. a number I have never had fasting. I washed my hands again and redid the test, it was 116. I too am going to call the meter company which is made for Medicine Shop. I have no insurance and even though there strips are cheaper than some, I hate to need two or more for every test. I do have trouble still getting enough blood to keep the meter from erroring..

well, i know how wrong tests can happen on some of those cheaper meters, ive got both the ascenia contour and the ascenia breeze, out of those two, i would trust the contour more as it just looks like a better meter to me (and it matched up with my onetouch readings), the breeze i know gives me wrong readings, cause i will test with that one and my ultra smart, and its normally 6 to 15 points higher than my one touch, i for one think the one touch or accuchecks are better brands to work with.

[Pat Pending]

You really should wash your hands before doing a B.G. test. Contaminants can throw the readings off. Use very warm water to make it easier to get sufficient blood. Suspend the edge of the strip in the drop of blood so it doesn't touch your skin. If you must touch the skin, the strip should be at about a 45 degree angle, NOT perpendicular. The strip has a small opening for drawing blood into it. If the strip touches the skin you will be blocking the opening and get erratic readings. If an insufficient amount of blood is taken by the strip and then more applied latter you are likely to get a higher than actual reading. Have you noticed that when the B.G. reading is higher it takes longer for the measurement process to complete?

I've been getting consistent readings with my Freestyle Flash meter when I use proper technique.

[Nada]

I've been having that happed to me often lately too. I have the BD link monitor. I'm starting to think there's something wrong with it.

OTOH, I know if my hands aren't clean, it's likely I'll get an "off" reading. A few days ago, after handling fruit, I took a reading and it was 445 (24.7) and I just about freaked. I've never been that high. So I washed my hands and took it again and it was normal. Phew!

[sweetcheeks]

i can imagine your face, and your underwear! lol

[seacomp]

I would strongly advise not washing one's hands before every test. Wash, or just wipe, when there is a need to. Washing your hands before every test, will make it (the testing) such a pain that you will not test often enough. Like voting, one should test early and often!
If you apply the blood to test strip correctly, as indicated above, there will be con contamination from dirt or sweets on your finger since the blood and the strip never touches the dirty area.
If you make a production out of testing, you just will not do it enough to get the benefit you should.

[Cyborg]

I also use the alcohol swabs most of the time. They are great to put into your test kit and carry around with you, especially when there's no place to wash your hands.

I've had several OneTouch Ultra Smart meters and I love them. IMO, they are very accurate.