Meter Question

[AJ21]

hi guys,
I have a question for you....
I've been a diabetic for 4.5 years, I'm currently on the pump, however I'm still using my 'one touch' meters to tell me my blood sugar.
My meters lately are driving me nuts. I check my blood sugar and it will say 8.8, i then check the 'result' on my Pump, which I know is 20 minutes behind, but it says for example '6.2' and two down arrows (meaning it's dropping fast), so then I check my blood again on my meter (literally 20 seconds later) and it says 5.7

I switched meters twice already (from the ultra 2 > ultrasmart) etc, and i keep getting this same error.
I checked the strips and w/ the red water stuff, and they say it's fine.
Just now I tested and it said 13.3, my pump said 16.4 and rising w/ two arrows, i reset the pump sensor (i only inserted it 3 hours ago), retested my finger and it said 14.8.
This is driving me nuts.
Any ideas on what I can do?

Thanks

- AJ

[ant hill]

Are you washing your hands?? But it's true that different places on your body can give different results. For a experiment test with your meter in one finger then strait after that test again on the other hand and you will see a different result. ;)

[Handybear]

One thing my Dr. told me when he gave me my meter was that I should probably replace it every three years. I have only had mine for a year, but intend to follow his advice which has been good so far.

[AJ21]

yup - my hands were washed.
i actually called onetouch after i posted this, and they said there will always be a 20% margin of error with the results.
if there's more than a 20% error, that would be an issue.

they also said, when you use one meter than switch to an other to test, there's a greater possibility of error (up to 40% margin of error.)

[ant hill]

they also said, when you use one meter than switch to an other to test, there's a greater possibility of error (up to 40% margin of error.)

Yup, Unfortunately you cannot have speed and accuracy too, So the older meters are somewhat more accurate than the new meters. ;)

[thomasb]

also a representative from lifescan, who makes the onetouch, said that you need to poke yoursef again to get new blod, even if it's from the same finger, cos if you get more blood from the same spot, it will be different, due to something with eh, ah, bloodplasma...or.. something, cant remember. but it's generally true for me.

[Cyborg]

I'd trust the meter over the CGMS any day...

[ant hill]

I'd trust the meter over the CGMS any day...

Yeah Shure
I wonder!!!

[Keezheekoni]

Don't you also have to calibrate the CGMS when you are at a "stable" number? For instance, having your bg be at around 100 for a few hours...then the calibration will be accurate. I don't know how true this is, but it's what I've heard.