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accuracy of finger pricks

P

PaulG

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
This morning the finger prick was 17.8 so I repeated the test and it was 11.4
This has happened several times in the past, sometimes with wider variations.

My norm is 8 ish.
All the gear is Accu-Chek

Paul G
 
There may be slight variations in BG readings - our BG is always changing. However, you also need to bear in mind the required standards for home glucometers is to be within 15% of the "true" BG 95% of the time. So, you large variation maybe those 5% of the times.
Or, as @Inka suggested, you may have something on your fingers which is affecting the readings.

This is assuming that your test strips are within date.
 
Hi @PaulG. If you are expecting 8's and get double figures then something is going on. The big difference between your first test and the repeat points to something other than high blood glucose levels being at the bottom of it. I'd be thinking something on your fingers or maybe even dodgy test strips.

My thought is to check over the next few days, washing hands first and see if the high readings are repeatable. If they are, then time to think a bit more.
 
PaulG said:
This morning the finger prick was 17.8 so I repeated the test and it was 11.4
This has happened several times in the past, sometimes with wider variations.

My norm is 8 ish.
All the gear is Accu-Chek

Paul G
Click to expand...
I agree with @Docb - when I get a reading that's outside my normal range, either higher or lower, I double-check by switching hands and retesting. I've never had a variation anywhere near as much as yours.
 
@PaulG agree with others comments.
I test every morning (not on any medication) but I do make sure my fasting period is 9/10 hours and my results are always pretty much the same.
 
Whenever the opportunity arrises, hospital, doctors surgery etc, I cross check my machine against theirs
but maybe a fresh battery is called for.
 
Accu-Chek meters have always been reckoned to nearer 'within 10%' or closer. Nobody this century except me and nurses when I've been an in patient when having operations or a day surgery patient has ever wielded a glucometer in my direction. Oooh, and ambulance staff.
 
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