Having problems with new codefree meter...

[Greymouser]

So I ordered one finally and it arrived today, thought I would give it a go, but the problem is the first three strips and tests I have tried have each come up with an E 1 error message, which according to the manual, means the strip is defective, or inserted incorrectly. I cannot see any other way to insert it, so before I get shouty with the supplier, is there anything else I could be doing wrong? I don't really want to use all the initial strips up if I am making the same mistake.

I mean it is straight forward enough, or seems so. I did get another 50 strips.

 

[Northerner]

I don't use a Codefree personally, but you may find this video helpful:

There are a few other videos on Youtube fro the Codefree 🙂

 

[Greymouser]

Superb! Thank you Northerner, a very useful video for a numpty like me who tried adding the blood, then inserting the strip into the meter. DOH!
When done in the right order, gave me a reading of 5.1, which was surprisingly good. ( About half an hour after food; after exercise... )
🙂

 

[Northerner]

Superb! Thank you Northerner, a very useful video for a numpty like me who tried adding the blood, then inserting the strip into the meter. DOH!
When done in the right order, gave me a reading of 5.1, which was surprisingly good. ( About half an hour after food; after exercise... )
🙂

Ah! Good to hear - and a great number! 🙂

 

[Greymouser]

I have another question if you do not mind. I have just tested two hours after my evening meal, which was Soya mince Chilli with a baked potato, with a soya ice cream for desert, I guess about 80g of carbs. My reading was 8.1, which whilst that doesn't seem so bad, my diabetic nurse told me it needs to be below 8 for anything approaching normal. Am I overthinking this?

I am going to have to be so careful or I will become OCD with this meter! 🙂

 

[Robin]

I have another question if you do not mind. I have just tested two hours after my evening meal, which was Soya mince Chilli with a baked potato, with a soya ice cream for desert, I guess about 80g of carbs. My reading was 8.1, which whilst that doesn't seem so bad, my diabetic nurse told me it needs to be below 8 for anything approaching normal. Am I overthinking this?

I am going to have to be so careful or I will become OCD with this meter! 🙂

What you have to bear in mind with this testing malarkey is that there are a lot of variables.
1. Meters only have to be within 10% accuracy
2. It's possible to get two different readings from your right hand and your left, the body isn't always completely homogenous.
3. Your reactions to foods may vary depending on how you're feeling, how much exercise you took today, the weather, etc.

So, what you're aiming for isn't a one off reading that doesn't quite match the criteria, but rather a series of readings that shows you that, over time, OK, after this sort of meal, you're generally under 8, or, oh dear, this sort of meal tends to spike you over 8 most of the time, better rethink.

 

[Bubbsie]

I have another question if you do not mind. I have just tested two hours after my evening meal, which was Soya mince Chilli with a baked potato, with a soya ice cream for desert, I guess about 80g of carbs. My reading was 8.1, which whilst that doesn't seem so bad, my diabetic nurse told me it needs to be below 8 for anything approaching normal. Am I overthinking this?

I am going to have to be so careful or I will become OCD with this meter! 🙂

GM...no I don't believe you're over thinking things...that's exactly the way you should be thinking...how what you eat affects your diet...I believe we're all a little like that initially...until we find our feet...my guess would be the baked potato led to the 8.1...just keep testing...you'll soon find a balance...possibly reduce those carbs a bit more...however...as @Robin cautions there are other factors that can affect your BG levels...you should aim for an average daily reading...your meter will give you a record of your average BG levels for the last day... seven days...the last fourteen & the last thirty days...mine gives me an average for the last ninety days (not sure if the codefree does 90 days)...while our meters readings are not as accurate as the HbA1c test...they can give you a reasonable idea of whether you are heading in the right direction...hope that helps.

 

[Greymouser]

OK, thanks for that, Robin and Bubbsie, I will try to refocus on the trends...

Another question though occurs: How does the HbA1c relate to the meter averages?

Incidentally, I had way more carbs today than my normal; way more exercise too!

 

[Mark Parrott]

I wish I was only 8.1 after eating a jacket potato. They don't like me at all.