[xMenace]

Today I did some rather radical testing to address a couple of unknowns. The first is my meters. I wanted to test the accuracy and variability of both my Link meters. A have a new Contour Link and a two year old BD Link. I know that most who use Contours are very happy with them, but my experience has been limited. It seems nearly all of the BD owners hate them, but it's still my favorite. The second thing to test was the effeect of my homemade bread. I started making it in November. I'm really happy with the performance, but I've done no controlled exercises to prove it.

So I tested at noon, took my bolus, and put my extra-large grilled cheese made with homemade whole wheat bread on to cook. Total carbs in the bread were 60 (big pieces)! That's about double what I'd eat at the most. I also poured a light beer. I know this screws the test somewhat, but it tasted great I decided to test with each meter at 15 minute intervals to start with. Of course I happenned to be borderline hypo which also fuzzies the results, but hey, it was fun


BD Link --------- Contour Link
12noon
Bolus
3.3 --------------------- 2.9
3.1 --------------------- 3.2
======================
12:15
2.9 --------------------- 3.6
3.1 --------------------- 3.6
------------------------- 3.4
======================
12:25 -12:35 eat
======================
12:30
2.9 --------------------- 3.1
3.3 --------------------- 3.6
3.0 --------------------- 3.3
======================
12:45
started to feel very mild hypo symptoms
4.4 --------------------- 4.6
4.2 --------------------- 4.6
======================
1:00
hypos symptoms gone
5.9 --------------------- 5.9
6.0 --------------------- 6.8
6.2 --------------------- 6.4
======================
1:15
6.4 --------------------- 6.7
6.4 --------------------- 7.2
======================
1:30
7.5 --------------------- 7.5
7.1 --------------------- 7.9
======================
2:00
7.8 --------------------- 8.5
8.2 --------------------- 9.9
9.0 --------------------- 9.0
======================
2:30
8.5 --------------------- 9.3
7.9 --------------------- 9.4
======================
3:30
6.7 --------------------- 7.2
6.4 --------------------- 6.8
======================

So after 47 tests in 2.5 hours, my fingers felt a little worn out, but not bad. I was happy with the levels. If I had started at 5.5 I'd have gone into the teens on both meters, but the meal was almost double my normal lunch. I also bolused slightly less to compensate for the low. I was happy the bread did not send me straight up but took a long slow rise instead. I think a small serving would work very well, which my experience so far confirms.

Though I started to feel some hypo symptoms, they were mild and I don't think I had a liver dump. At least results don't indicate it.

The meter results are interesting. My Contour is obviously a bit higher than my BD and more variable. Any statisticians out there to give me some meaningful numerical analysis?. I don't know what my levels really were, but the early 3.6's concern me. If I was really 2.9 to 3.3, such a reading could get me into trouble. The number of samples is too low and there's no baseline to compare to. I think it will be my back-up meter for now. More testing needed.

[Tattoo azz]

Can i nominate you for "most poked person ever??" lol
you are a hero

[Olidus]

Interesting test results xMenace.
One thing I have found using just a single tester that if you test, 3-4 times in a row - you neve get the same results.

At least that is what I found with the LifeScans that I use.

[Scrabblechick]

Once in a while, I'll get the same numbers twice in a row. If I get a reading that seems unusually high, I'll test again. If the second is way lower, I'll test a third time, and see how close that third test is to the other two. Usually, it will be closer to one side than the other.

On my meter, I've noticed that even if I do several tests, if I've tested higher than I felt was accurate, I will NEVER get a result higher than the very first reading. It's always lower. That tells me my instinct was probably correct and the meter was reading high for whatever reason.

I'm a little afraid to switch meters since I do feel my True Track is as accurate as any other, most of the time. I have an Ultra2, but it always read 10 points higher (except when it read 5 points lower), and the strips are cost-prohibitive. I need to find what my insurance company will cover.

The True Track uses the same strips as the Sidekick, and most people are happy with the Sidekick, so I figure it's essentially the same mechanism.

I try to remember it's only a number, but I feel much better in my mind when that number is lower.

[pegasus]

Has anyone tried taking their meter(s) into, say, a commercial lab and asking for a comparison? I'm sorely tempted to see if I can find some sympathetic soul . I wish I knew someone who worked at one so I could do it at regular intervals over a few hours, or randomly over a few days.

[CrazyGramma]

OMG - don't be shaking hands with anyone who squeezes too hard...sprinkler!

[RobiJo]

John watch out for those geysers! Whenever I poke that many holes I inevitably have one the next day or so.

Originally Posted by Tattoo azz

Can i nominate you for "most poked person ever??" lol
you are a hero

I used to poke enough holes to fill my logbook with 4-5 numbers a day for 3 months before an endo appointment. (because I wasn't doing them... grr. if I would have known then what I know now..) I'd eat and drink throughout and then take a shot to make the numbers change. Then repeat the cycle. Something around 400 bgs in 1 day.

At least he was doing something to learn from all his testing!

[Tattoo azz]

ok i stand corrected on most poked person ever!! and i agree that xMenace you need to be applauded for what you are doing well done.