Meter difference - Advice needed

[sam123]

I would like to know which meter is the best for blood testing at home. When I was diagnosed last year, I was given a freestyle meter, which I thought was good. But, lately it started giving me higher readings (110-120 with occasionally 90- 100 fasting) opposed to what I was getting earlier and my A1C turned out to be 5.1. Now, one day when I tested in the morning it showed a reading of 136, which for me was hard to believe so immediately I tested it again and this time it showed 102. So, I got confused and gave a call to customer service and they send me a new meter. Now when I compared this new meter with my old meter, there is a consistent difference of 20-25 points. The new meter is showing lower values while the old meter still shows the higher values. I think the old meter is corrupted somehow.

Have anyone experienced like this in the past. Recently, I have reduced the amount of metformin I was taking and now due to this meter problem I have a hard time analyzing the impact of the changes in the metformin dosage.

Thanks,
Sam

[shockme]

hi sam! there are differences between meters...i've also seen different charts comparing a1cs and meter bgs...for example-my initial a1c was 9.2. i've seen charts say it corresponds to 240,250 and 260...which is right? heck if i know...:D my opinion-stick to one meter all the time. the next time your dr. wants blood work-ask for an fbs. fast a minimun of 8 hrs, the nite b4.right b4 the blood is drawn,test. when you get the results.compare it to your meter reading. take care,trish

[Harold]

You could try a new battery in the old meter. Should not be a bad battery no longer than you have been using it, but gotta start somewhere.

[mortis505]

Have you done a control test recently?

[pdxdennisj]

Meters have a tolerance of 20% and that is considered normal.

[LantusFiend]

I think sometimes meters of the same variety can have a huge difference. I've had three accu-chek avivas. The first was wonderfully accurate, but the second and third suck. When comparing to the venous blood draw through the lab, they've been more than 20% high.