• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Wife has gestational diabetes

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
R

Robert Mawson

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Gestational
Hello, my name is Rob, my wife Helen has gestational diabetes.

She was given a bayer contour next usb to monitor her bloods. Given by the Diabetes nurse at Bangor hospital, in Gwynedd north wales. Today she went into hospital because the baby is measuring 42 weeks, but she is meant to be 38 weeks. while in the hospital, her blood was tested using an accucheck monitor, and the bloods came back at 12.8, whereas on her monitor, the one provided by the DN, read 9.0. The nurse on the ward told her that the blood machine she was given has never been calibrated. Considering this machine was given to her by a specialist who did not mention calibration, or, as we have found, not calibrated it upon my wife using it in her presence, my wifes readings have been false for over 7 months, and therefore injecting in relation to the levels obtained using the machine. Where do we stand, as this is a huge error, and we are now worrying for our little boy. we are hoping this doesnt cause any problems, but feel there has to be a comsequence for injecting the wrong levels of insulin four times a day for over 7 months.

Any advice appreciated.
 
Welcome to the forum, Robert Mawson.
Any blood glucose meter intended for use at home / out of hospital only has to be accurate to within 10 or 15%, depending on when it was made, so 12.6mmol/l and 9.0mmol/l are pretty close. Measurements can also be affected by things on skin - unless fingers are carefully washed, rinsed and dried, readings can be higher if there's a trace of sugar, usually from food or drink residue and lower if water / sweat is not dried off.
When you were issued with the Bayer Contour Next USB meter, did you get a box including an instruction manual? Did you read it?
 
It was given as is, unboxed and handed over. I take it we would be laughed at if we tried to kick up a fuss about it? i assume you mentioned the instruction manual because it probably mentions calibration? Brilliant. As always, there's nothing that can be done about misinformation. Thanks though.
 
I have had many meters over the past 25 years and have never heard of calibrating them.
 
Some manufactures supply solutions to test if they are within tolerences.
 
Al the same, it doesn't make comfortable reading to hear something like this.
 
Robert Mawson said:
It was given as is, unboxed and handed over. I take it we would be laughed at if we tried to kick up a fuss about it? i assume you mentioned the instruction manual because it probably mentions calibration? Brilliant. As always, there's nothing that can be done about misinformation. Thanks though.
Click to expand...
Yes, the instruction manual probably mentions calibration. Even if you didn't get a meter instruction manual, each pack of strips usually includes an instruction leaflet, which would mention calibration if it were required. I've just searched for instruction manual online - see https://www.contournextpro.com/resources/pdf/CntrUSB_User_eng.pdf I couldn't spot anything about calibration, but there is a section entitled "Performing a Control Test". I have no idea how the diabetes team would respond if you raised the issue with them. Personally, I think that issuing a meter without instruction manual is unwise, but I always look for instruction manuals online whenever I buy something second hand - not blood glucose meters, but things like bicycles, cars, kitchen electrical equipment etc.
 
I had a Bayer Contour USB (the previous version) and you didn't have to calibrate it. As others say, you can ask Bayer for a control solution to check it, which might put your mind at rest- I don't think Bayer supply the solution as standard. I think the two readings are probably within experimental error. You might get more response if you make a new post asking for users of the same meter to confirm if they had to calibrate it. Hope your wife and baby are fine- must be a stressful time.
 
I have used a contour usb next and it did not have to be calibrated.supposed to check with control solution if you need to check the meter which I didn't because readings were within range of other meter using at the time. You normally get control solution form meter manufacturer.
You did have to calibrate some meters back in the dark ages but not for a long time and definitely not the contour usb next, it is a modern meter
Jo
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top