weird results

[zoffmann]

Hi,

i got the following results in lab:

6,7 mmol/l = 120 mg/dl

but when I use glucose meter (lifescan onetouch UltraEasy):

5.3 mmol/l = 95.4 mg/dl

I have tested meter with control fluid and result is OK.

Why is glucose meter shows lower values than these from the lab ?

thanks in advance.

[ant hill]

The A1C is a test over the average of 3 months as the meter is the current reading.
get the average tests over 3 months from your meter like the computer that gets the meter's tests and the average from the software that the meter uploads to.
As the test that you have gotten from your endo, I get the same differences too. ;)

[zoffmann]

It means that meter has it's own measrment system.

So if I got 5 on the the meter it as 6 in the lab in my case.

[xMenace]

What kind of lab test was it, a straight glucose test or an HBA1C? Were they done at the exact same times?

Meters are error prone, up to 20%. Take back-to-back tests a few times and see for yourself.

And welcome to the forum.

[zoffmann]

I was not allowed to eat from 20.00 till 08.00 next day when I took test at the lab.


I did the same thing at the home with my glucose meter.

If you please can explain the following:

"straight glucose test" and "HBA1C"

(I am very new with diabetes related terminology)

[Harold]

Labs draw venous blood and check the plasma portion of the blood. Meters check capillary whole blood which are internally compensated to read out a plasma equivalent. Unless your taking the samples within a couple of minutes of each other I would not worry about it. Glucose levels can change rapidly.

[xMenace]

I was not allowed to eat from 20.00 till 08.00 next day when I took test at the lab.


I did the same thing at the home with my glucose meter.

If you please can explain the following:

"straight glucose test" and "HBA1C"

(I am very new with diabetes related terminology)
Glycosylated hemoglobin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HbA1c)

The A1C is a measure of how you've been doing over the previous three months. It is of great value to us. It cannot be compared to a single point-in-time test like you do with your meter. That's very likely the test you are comparing to.

[zoffmann]

I had glucose between 6 and 7 in lab, and it was measured over the several past years (1-3 times a year)

And now glucose meter shows 5.3; 5.8 - it is very low

What I think my glucose meter has some speciall system of measuring samples or it is error in it.

My solution is:

1. Next time I go to lab, I'll take my meter with me and take both lab samples and sample with my glucose meter and see what happens ;)

2. I will take samples next month and see what is happening

[JJM335]

1. Meter accuracy is supposed to be that 95% of readings are within plus or minus 20% of "actual" value. That means if your meter reads say 6.0, there's a 95% chance that your blood glucose is between 4.8 and 7.2. So your meter at 5.8 and lab at 7 are just about within the limits.

2. The lab test measures levels of glucose in plasma, meters measure in whole blood, although many then "convert" to plasma equivalent. Plasma readings are on average 11% higher than whole blood. Check out which reading you get from your meter, if in doubt contact the manufacturer.

3. Some meters seem to be more accurate than others and some may be a bit biased (read high or low) Given the pretty lax standards on accuracy, this is not exactly surprising. If you are unhappy with your meter, try one from a different manufacturer.

Joel