Meter Questions??

~Arin~ · 08-27-2007, 02:58 PM

I was diagnoised with Gestational Diabetes in December 2006 (daughter was born in February 2007). I have tested my glucouse levels since giving birth a few times. I continously have problems with my meter (both when pregnant and after). I will test my glucouse level, get the reading, then re-test with a new drop of blood (samd finger prick) within seconds of the first test and it will be 15-30 points different. Obviously, that is a pretty huge change, which worries me. Has anybody else had this problem with their meter? Am I doing something wrong? Which number do I trust? I hate it because I have no trust in my meter.

And, yes I have "calibrated it" with the solution and everything comes back fine.

Any ideas?!

joeskitty · 08-27-2007, 03:18 PM

Mine does the same thing. I tested mine the other morning and it said 46/110/113/114 so yeah its like all over. I have 4 meters and I can test on one and then on another and it will be different. My dr had no real reason why she just said it happens. Sorry not much help but I understand what your going through.

Saille · 08-28-2007, 01:15 AM

Okay....the first thing to know is that a glucose meter is allowed a 20% variable rate.
The next thing to know that that Meter A is not going to read the same as Meter B. I have a One Touch Ultra that reads consistently about 15 points lower than my Ascentia Contour. So don't bother trying to test with two different meters because it just adds to the confusion.

And testing twice in a row with the same meter is still going to get you two different readings. And yes, they can vary widely -- and that is normal. That's why you need to be in a range, not at a specific number. You need to bed betweenm 70 and 115, under 140 two hours after starting a meal, under 180 one hour after starting a meal, under 100 morning fasting. The numbers are all general because the meters are only just so accurate.
They are accurate enough for what we need them for, but they are not professional diagnostic machinery.....they're just a home version of a tool so that we have something to work with.

With numbers like 46/110/113/114 I'd say that if those readings were all taken at the same time that the 46 was not done right and the other three were actually very close together.

Don't test more than once unless you get a reading that is waaaay off what you think it should be.....like that 46. If I tested and got 46 but felt fine I'd test again to see if I'd done something wrong. If I tested and got 190 I'd test again because that's a hugely high number and I'd think it was a mistake. But unless you think there's some mistake don't waste your test strips.
It's pretty sad when a doctor doesn't know this basic information, but unfortunately a lot of information on diabetes falls through the cracks because there are only so many things any doc can learn in a given lifetime.
Another good resource about information on medications and equipment is your pharmacist.
And the American Diabetes Association's discussion boards.