[someone]

I just got 3 Freestyle meters, and am feeling that they are not living up to their claimed accuracy. I have been closely comparing the Freestyle Flash with my old BD Logic, and every once and a while the Freestyle will be way different than the BD, yet sometimes they will be exactly the same. For example, tonight, I tested at 11:20 with both meters. The result with the Freestyle was 111 and the BD said 113. No problem here. 20 minutes later, I come to test. Freestyle says 144, BD says 123. I go to wash my hands, just in case, then once again test using the Freestyle... 144. Is it even possible that I went up that quickly considering I had not taken insulin or eaten for 3 hours?

Now, people are probably going to tell me that meters are not always going to be perfect. The issue arises when it comes to the CGMS. Do I calibrate at 123 or 144?

Ever since I have been using the Freestyle readings to calibrate the CGMS, it has been WAY off. As long as I calibrate with the BD, everything works great. I feel that the results from the BD are reasonable, while the Flash seems off some of the time.

I am dumbfounded and frustrated by the situation. Anyone have any suggestions? The reason I switched in the first place was because the Logics aren't made anymore.

[owlyn]

What you have observed is 100% normal and okay. Meters are only accurate to within 20%, so a 20% variation in readings at a given instant are expected. Then add in that you are not a machine where everything is equal and perfect throughout your system. I mean, there is no mixmaster whipping up your blood (at least there better not be!) so that it is all homogenized and every drop of blood contains the exact same amount of glucose and everything else that's in there. So, basically, relax, everything is fine. In terms of calibrating, it probably doesn't matter considering the above. Just test once and use that number. Best bet is to check with the manufacturer of you CBGM device. Bet they say the same thing.

[Dewey]

'Someone', I actually asked my endo to go ahead and write the prescription to include BD strips. BD has been bought by Sanvita, so their strips & meters are still being sold.

I stated in the letter to my endo, that if BD is the preferred meter for the CGMS system, then I'd like to use it to do my calibrations and all.

[someone]

I knew someone would come up with a post like that. For the most part, the blood in all of your fingers should be close to the same. The samples I have been using are are from the same fingerstick, which eliminates that variable.

I have reached the conclusion that the Freestyle just isn't accurate. Switched back to my BD today, and my CGMS is now within 5 mg/dL every time I test. At least I got a good deal on the meters I bought. One was free and the other 2 were $17 each.

I think next I will be trying out the precision, and if that doesn't work I will try aviva.

Originally Posted by Dewey

'Someone', I actually asked my endo to go ahead and write the prescription to include BD strips. BD has been bought by Sanvita, so their strips & meters are still being sold.

I stated in the letter to my endo, that if BD is the preferred meter for the CGMS system, then I'd like to use it to do my calibrations and all.

I know the strips are going to be sold, but what about the meters? I have not seen it in a single store. Knowing that the meter itself cannot be replaced makes me feel uncomfortable using it.

[owlyn]

I am happy that all of your fingers have the same amount of BG. That is NOT true for everyone. Read the patient care literature that comes wth the strips. The 20% variation will be mentioned in there.

[JediSkipdogg]

My question is how in the world do you know the Freestyle is off and not the BD?

BD has a history of bad meters which is one reason I'd say 75% of MM pumpers don't use the BD meter with the pump. They are either dead on, or dead off.

Personally, if you got two results on the same meter within the same reading that's what I would use to calibrate.

You mention the Freestyle being off of the CGMS. Keep in mind, you need to use the same meter to calibrate all the time. The CGMS will adjust to that meter. For example, if your body is truely running 200 and your meter says 100, then all of the results are going to be 100 off. Therefore, technically, if you run 100, your CGMS would say 0 and be alarming a storm at you even though you are perfectly fine.

[NoelD]

The BD meter I got with my 722 was so badly off an erratic, I threw the strips out and only use the meter for carelink.........

[someone]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

My question is how in the world do you know the Freestyle is off and not the BD?

First of all, I get crazy readings that are not even reasonable with the Flash. Second, I tried using the Flash to calibrate my CGMS for a day (right after I inserted the sensor), and for that day, everytime I test with the Flash, it was not even close to what the Guardian said. Whereas when I use the BD to calibrate it, whenever I test, I am usually within 5 of what the Guardian says. I can see where this might be hard to see if you are not using a CGMS, but with the CGMS it is obvious that the Freestyle has issues.

Anyways, I just thought I would share my experience with the Freestyle. Anyone interested in getting a Freestyle might want to think twice before switching.

[Dewey]

Originally Posted by someone

I know the strips are going to be sold, but what about the meters? I have not seen it in a single store. Knowing that the meter itself cannot be replaced makes me feel uncomfortable using it.

Actually, found a BD meter in Wal-Mart more recently. I also noticed that MiniMed still sells their Logic Link meters. When I used my Link in the past, I did get some E-3 errors & had other issues, but it was at a time when the strips were problematic (& were actually recalled - that was in 2003). In more recent times, when I had received a couple of free BD meters via mail, I decided to do some comparisons, and found readings to be pretty darn close to others (i.e. UltraSmart, even to Freestyle Flash, etc.).

One thing I know for sure, and that's that NO meter is 100% accurate. I've had my Flash read 100 points off from what my bg actually was (& felt). If you're unsure and don't trust your meter, or if it reads far different than how you feel, the best way to determine your bg is to check again (either using the same or another meter), or perhaps go by the cgms.

[someone]

None of the stores have the BD Logic on their websites. The ones you saw must have just been ones that were never sold. I don't think they are manufactured anymore.

I cannot believe abbott has the guts to put this on their site. Clinical Study from the Albany College of Pharmacy and The Endocrine Group, LLP, Albany, NY

[Funnygrl]

Why can't you believe abbott would put that on their site?

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by someone

None of the stores have the BD Logic on their websites. The ones you saw must have just been ones that were never sold. I don't think they are manufactured anymore.

I cannot believe abbott has the guts to put this on their site. Clinical Study from the Albany College of Pharmacy and The Endocrine Group, LLP, Albany, NY

There are at least 100 studies that I know conducted showing accuracy of BG meters and it has ALWAYS come down to the Flash and the One Touch Ultra line being the most accurate.

Maybe you have a bad Flash meter. Try testing it with some Flash control solution.

[someone]

Actually I got 3 of them. I haven't really paid attention to which meter or strip vial I am using when I get inaccurate readings though.

[JediSkipdogg]

Are you also making sure that the meter is coded for the right strips. Miscoding can produce huge errors and reproduce those exact errors over and over.

[someone]

No, I coded it correctly.