[Aslosman]

So we should all figure out which finger gives up the lowest readings and use that tso our Dr's will be happy right? Yes I'm kiding

By the way, my ultra mini gives me the most reproducable results finger to finger and sample to sample but I have found that if I use a sample size just berly enough to work I get a higher reading and obviously more than enough goves me lower readings but this is usually +- 10 mg/dcL (don't know the mmol/L conversion but could probably figure it out if I though about it)

[davef]

Originally Posted by Aslosman

(don't know the mmol/L conversion but could probably figure it out if I though about it)

Alex,

If you ever want to convert to mmol/L, divide by 18 or use the converter that's under the "Site Navigation" panel on the right of each page.

[asmo]

All of this error associated with the meters available to us normal folks gets to the question as to whether or not we can really depend on them to determine say ...whether you get to have a piece of cake (small of course) at a family birthday party.

I'm familiar with people who make moment by moment decisions on what they can eat by what the meter says & they'll be looking for readings say below 125 for a go eat the treat.

To me meters are important for following general trends. If you tend to get consistent readings at a particular level then you can probably surmise you're in that general level. For example I'm starting with Metformin after getting off Avandia/Actos... my readings (after ignoring my meter entirely and taking 1000 mg of met for a couple of months) were in the 300 range... ok time to contact the doc & fess up... Now Im on the 2500 mg dose split 1000/1500 and over the last several weeks the readings in the AM have been gradually stepping down... I've been reading consistantly the last few at 170 in the am. My lowest readings for some reason are always in the late PM or early evening...around 125-35 which is much better. I've got another 6 weeks to go before we decide whether something like Jenuvia is added to the dose.

Basically the A1c test is the standard we really have to live by. I don't think it pays to get too fixated on shifts of meter readings on a realatively fine scale

[fgummett]

Originally Posted by asmo

Basically the A1c test is the standard we really have to live by. I don't think it pays to get too fixated on shifts of meter readings on a relatively fine scale

Yes and No... A1c is important but I think it needs to go along with home BS testing... as an "average" it can still be misleading for someone who is very high every morning and very low every afternoon... not a healthy way to be, but you could end up with an apparently good A1c.
I also agree that we should not make decisions based on small changes in home meter BS readings and I'm also frustrated that they are not more accurate BUT it has been shown that it is possible to maintain good control using the current level of accuracy

[princesslinda]

Originally Posted by asmo

Basically the A1c test is the standard we really have to live by. I don't think it pays to get too fixated on shifts of meter readings on a realatively fine scale

While the A1C is a great tool to measure overall control, your daily control of blood sugar is VERY important, and may not necessarily be mirrored by your A1C, as you can have poor control while still getting a decent A1C (for example, you could have several highs followed by several lows...poor control, but still giving a decent average).

If you just go by your A1C, you might miss these fluctuations...if you're testing several times a day, you'll be able to notice them and seek help before things get too out of hand.

[BrianSCohen]

Originally Posted by asmo

Basically the A1c test is the standard we really have to live by. I don't think it pays to get too fixated on shifts of meter readings on a realatively fine scale

For myself, I actually have more faith in my meter. I have had consistent correlation between my meter and my sampled glucose at the doctors office. My meter tells me when I am low and high, and most importantly how foods, exercise and other things affect me. My HbA1c tells me none of this.

My HbA1c seems to have system errors. My repeated readings at 6.2-6.4% over a year correspond to 20% too high as compared to my meter readings. At my last appointment, I asked for a fructosamine test, which came back closely reflecting my meter readings. Yes, I think it is important to maintain tight control, both keeping your average readings normal and minimizing variation. However, I have just about given up thinking that absolute values HbA1c is a good validation of this in my case.

[Scrabblechick]

Yo, Brian! What is a fructosamine test?

[MickeyLane]

Ah. The perfect thread...

I've been using a OneTouch Ultra. It was "free" from the Doc's office no doubt because the company is making a killing on the test strips. Being new to all this, I assumed it was accurate. Or within some reasonable range anyway.

Wanting to increase my testing beyond the Doc's prescription, I went to Wal*Mart for a cheaper alternative. I found the Reli-On Ultima for $9 and a pack of 50 test strips for $22. No prescription required.

For the first 2 tests, I used one brand on the side of one pinky and the other on the side of the other pinky. I noted differences of 15 and 21 mg/dl. Being an engineer and knowing something of testing accuracy, repeatability and the like, this sort of freaked me out )

For the 3rd test, I reread the calibration procedure for the new meter and discovered that there is probably an error in the instructions - you plug the calibration thingie in, verify the numbers and push the button to turn the meter off before removing the calibration strip. Previously I had just pulled the strip out with the meter still on.

The difference in the 3rd reading was 4.

In all cases, the Reli-On was higher than the OneTouch.

Now that I've read this thread, I'll continue comparison testing with the two meters but I'll use the same finger at the same time with the same blood sample. Hopefully I can get to the point where I can say one meter is always more or less X points different from the other.

Thanks for the information.