CodeFree Test strip Control range?

[bigbob]

Hi guys,

Ive not been testing my blood for long - and have only been using the same tub of 50 test strips for my codefree monitor.

I feel like I've been doing well (considering how high my blood sugar was) - But I had to order a new tub of test sticks - I tested this morning with a new stick and got 7.5 -- then an old strip and got 6.2. It can make it feel like I'm not doing so good

I've just noticed on the new strips it says control range Level M 5.2 - 7.5 (old strips were 4.8 - 7.0) and Level H 9.5 - 13.6 (old strips 8.9 - 12.8)

There was no option of choosing the range when I ordered the strips. But I'd prefer to get same as my first batch so I sometimes see 5.X instead of never seeing below 6.X

Any advice would be great

Thank you 🙂

 

[Ljc]

Hi @bigbob . Don't worry about the range, your test strips are absolutely fine.
Their can be as much as a 15% difference even using the same sample of blood, so your meter and strips are well within that limit.

The range you have seen on the test strip pack, is todo with the control solution, we are supposed to test the strips each time we open a new pack and it's not to do with our BG levels, the control solution is available from the company your meter came from.

 

[bigbob]

I'm feeling a bit defeated now - when I was starting to feel I was managing well.

I was testing my blood 90mins after meals - and it was always 5.9 - 6.4 ish - with these new sticks it's always 7.1 to 7.5

What's depressing me is that this 1.0 difference in these sticks is pushing me from "non-diabetic" levels to type 2 according to this site:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html

I'm trying really hard with a low carb diet - but nothing can get me under 5.9 with these new sticks - where that was every morning with the old ones.

I'm thinking just ordering new sticks.

 

[Ljc]

oHi Bigbob.
Don't check the non diabetic range ok. one day in the future you may be able to attain non diabetic levels.

Type 2 diabetes pre prandial 4 to 7 mmol/L post prandial under 8.5 mmol/l

As you can see you're within range. So don't be disheartened, remember this is a marathon not a sprint.
1) You don't want to be lowering your BG too fast, you could get false hypo's, they are really horrid but not dangerous.
2) you say you're trying really hard, what you do must be sustainable long term, too many fall off the cliff because after a few months they find it's just too hard.
3) give yourself a pat on the back because you are doing really well !!! 🙂

 

[Bryan Osborne]

Hi guys,

Ive not been testing my blood for long - and have only been using the same tub of 50 test strips for my codefree monitor.

I feel like I've been doing well (considering how high my blood sugar was) - But I had to order a new tub of test sticks - I tested this morning with a new stick and got 7.5 -- then an old strip and got 6.2. It can make it feel like I'm not doing so good

I've just noticed on the new strips it says control range Level M 5.2 - 7.5 (old strips were 4.8 - 7.0) and Level H 9.5 - 13.6 (old strips 8.9 - 12.8)

There was no option of choosing the range when I ordered the strips. But I'd prefer to get same as my first batch so I sometimes see 5.X instead of never seeing below 6.X

Any advice would be great

Thank you 🙂

Hi I had the same problem and I was quite puzzled! Anyway two things I tried on advice. First WASH the site that you are testing from. Second, when you create the bubble of blood make it big enough AND put the point of the test strip as near as vertical into the blood. It is important that the receptor on the strip has a full load of blood to read.