[Ninja-Matic]

Long story short:

My frist OneTouch UltraMini was extremely inaccurate - variances of over 30 mg/dl from the same hand within 5 minutes - before breakfast.

My second OTUM has the same issues - this was taken this morning:

158
211
198

Now... testing again a few minutes ago:

256
238

The same time tested on my non-diabetic wife:

80
84
82

Just curious to see if anyone else has had any accuracy issues with OneTouch monitors?

Or am I just radioactive or something? lol

My numbers are high as I've just been diagnosed a week ago and still waiting for my last round of bloodwork from my doc. So I technically haven't changed my diet much other than cutting out sweets, soda, and lowering my carbs. Almost no point into configuring a diet when i'm not sure if I'm type 1, 2 and what meds I will need to help me out.

Anyhow - the variances seem too high for me... here's my method:

Wash hands
configure devices (lance, meter)
prick
wipe first drop of blood off with a tissue
test second drop of blood

Not sure if this has anything to do with the OneTouch meters as they seem to begin testing the blood the MILLISECOND it hits the strip - even before it fills up all the way.

Any suggestions on meters?

Thanks for your responses, ahead of time.

- Ninja

[ShottleBop]

Different people report different experiences with the various glucose monitors. I have found my Aviva Accu-cheks to be pretty reliable and consistent; I tried the UltraMini, but found it gave readings that were too inconsistent to be reliable. Others have had exactly the opposite experience.

[Ninja-Matic]

Originally Posted by ShottleBop

Different people report different experiences with the various glucose monitors. I have found my Aviva Accu-cheks to be pretty reliable and consistent; I tried the UltraMini, but found it gave readings that were too inconsistent to be reliable. Others have had exactly the opposite experience.

Thank you for the response... I will have to try an Accu-Check Aviva - i have been reading about these in as many sites as I can and so far it appears to be the most consistent of all meters.

[Real4]

Originally Posted by Ninja-Matic

Long story short:

My frist OneTouch UltraMini was extremely inaccurate - variances of over 30 mg/dl from the same hand within 5 minutes - before breakfast.

My second OTUM has the same issues - this was taken this morning:

158
211
198
...
80
84
82

Just curious to see if anyone else has had any accuracy issues with OneTouch monitors?

Almost no point into configuring a diet when i'm not sure if I'm type 1, 2 and what meds I will need to help me out.

Actually everything looks normal. Your wife's numbers are exactly what you'd expect for a non-diabetic, and unfortunately, so are yours, for someone who, as of yet is uncontrolled.

You will get significant variation even with blood from the same stick.

There is a meter that is more accurate but it cost more, the sctrips cost more, the amount of blood needed is more, and it takes more time.

[steamfan261]

Originally Posted by Ninja-Matic

Thank you for the response... I will have to try an Accu-Check Aviva - i have been reading about these in as many sites as I can and so far it appears to be the most consistent of all meters.

I wish you lots of luck. I have three of them and they are wildly inconsistent, inaccurate and annoying.

[Harold]

All of the meters will drive you crazy if your a perfectionist.

They only claim 15% accuracy, and that would be around a 100 points. So around 200 points you could expect to see 30 or more points. The feds only require them to be 20% and that is in a lab setting. Welcome to the real world of testing.

[Ninja-Matic]

Originally Posted by Real4

Actually everything looks normal. Your wife's numbers are exactly what you'd expect for a non-diabetic, and unfortunately, so are yours, for someone who, as of yet is uncontrolled.

You will get significant variation even with blood from the same stick.

There is a meter that is more accurate but it cost more, the sctrips cost more, the amount of blood needed is more, and it takes more time.

I understand I will get a variation due to my uncontrolled status... but this much of a variation from the same prick on my finger?

This wasn't the only test i've done. I've used the same prick on 1 finger for 3 tests, different fingers for 3 tests, etc... all within a minute or two of one another with similar, inaccurate results - WILDLY inaccurate - my largest deviation was almost 90 between 2 tests O.o

It is scientifically impossible for my levels to fluctuate this much within a matter of seconds.

[shiftzor]

You couldn't be further from the truth, there are sooo many variables it's amazing they can give a reasonably accurate result. Further to what's already been suggested anything you touched recently from bacteria to soap can have an effect and let's not forget sudden fluctuations that will take time to circulate round the body. Then the human body is more complicated that the scientists understand swings in bgs can be caused by hundreds of reasons. Sadly the meter inaccuracy is the price we pay for size and speed; there are bigger heavier slower meters that are very accurate but you can't fit it in your pocket or bag (easily).

The next argument is why don't they make meters more accurate that could fit in your pocket, the answer is that they are accurate enough to enable a decision on treatment to be made. More accuracy wouldn't necessarily give you a major advantage. For example difference between knowing that my actual bg is 52 (2.9) or with meter error 60 (3.3) or 44 (2.5) is little as I would still treat with the same number of carbs. This game is full of numbers none of which are as accurate as a human pancreas and because of this we simply have to do the best we can at utilising the tools we have today.

[cwathne]

Originally Posted by Ninja-Matic

I understand I will get a variation due to my uncontrolled status... but this much of a variation from the same prick on my finger?

This wasn't the only test i've done. I've used the same prick on 1 finger for 3 tests, different fingers for 3 tests, etc... all within a minute or two of one another with similar, inaccurate results - WILDLY inaccurate - my largest deviation was almost 90 between 2 tests O.o

It is scientifically impossible for my levels to fluctuate this much within a matter of seconds.

you also have to remember how small of a blood sample the meters use; there is not going to be exactly the same amount of sugar in each drop of your blood. Even if the meters were 100% accurate you would see differences in numbers.

When your blood sugar is in "normal" ranges 80-120 you will get readings within 5-10 points or less. The further your blood sugar is from the normal range the more variability there will be.

I use the ultra mini and find it to be very very accurate in the 50-150 range (lots of back to back tests when I calibrate my cgms using two tests); the higher your blood sugar levels go the more variation there will be

[art]

I had variances like those with a Contour.
Finally Bayer and I figured it out.
It was the strips. But individual strips not a whole vial.
Drove me nuts.

I went to a one touch.

Art

[Mothernature]

Originally Posted by cwathne

I use the ultra mini and find it to be very very accurate in the 50-150 range (lots of back to back tests when I calibrate my cgms using two tests); the higher your blood sugar levels go the more variation there will be

I love my ultra mini. It is very consistent.

You have to realize (as previously suggested) that you are not under control. You could have the beginnings of neuropathy and this could explain why you have different numbers. There are way too many variables to say for sure.

However, I agree with the above. 99% of the time I am between 90-120ish (I'm still testing food so I can run accross these nasty 140 2 hour postprandials from time to time). I can test on five different fingers and all either match or within 1 point of the original readings.

Regardless if you are type 1, 1.5, or 2, we all have restricted diets. The longer you carry those higher number, the more you damage your body.

[EeyoreButterfly]

You will always get variance. I found that Accuchek read much lower than my normal meters (a fasting read as 60 when on my normal meter which I have tested against a lab and found to be accurage was 95.)

I don't multiple test. For one, you are wasting strips and those are not cheap. The other issue with that is you will drive yourself crazy. The meters are only designed to give you a ballpark figure. I take the number and run with it.