Test results variation with meter types

[Toucan]

I recently decided to change from my Nexus Rx to a Tee2, due to the lower cost of strips.

First morning test with Tee2 showed 8.2 much higher than normal for me, but I’m currently a bit poorly with some horrible virus, so I put the high result down to that.

Following morning test Tee2 7.3 – not happy so tested with Nexus as well which gave 6.9

This morning I was as expecting highish results as my daughter had visited yesterday and brought me some chocolates (she should have known better - But they were delicious)

So, test results today Tee2 8.3 Nexus 7.1

Oh dear – so maybe I have I been fooling myself all this time with the better results from the Nexus.

I know that the differences aren’t great in the wider scheme of things but I put a lot of effort in to keeping results down, and they are usually a good refection of how well I have eaten and exercised – and as my husband knows only too well, the up or down morning measure can have an impact on the mood for the day!

I’ve now read all the small print and previous messages on the forum, and understand that 10% or so differences between meters and their accuracy is the way it is. So, this message is more by way of a grumble and to give others some awareness that the meters are only an indicator of readings and not to take small variations too seriously.

 

[Northerner]

Indeed. Some meters show consistently higher levels than others. It should also be noted that you can get three different readings from the same drop of blood using the same meter! 😱

My Contour Next is always at least 1 mmol/l higher than my Freestyle Libre (on blood tests), ad what is even more irritating is that the Libre scans (which measure interstitial fluid rather than blood) are generally at least 1 mmol/l lower than a blood test on the same device 🙄 I finally worked out why I had shown a 20% increase in my HbA1c, from 40 mmol/mol to 48 mmol/mol, in the 6 months after I had started using Libre sensors as my main guide - previously, using the Contour, I was only reacting when it showed below 4 mmol/l, but this would more times than not have shown as 2 mmol/l or below on a scan! 😱 Hence, I have been reacting to lows which weren't really lows and this has had the effect of raising my overall levels - if you're treating what is actually a 6 mmol/l reading as if it was a hypo then you're pushing your levels into the 9s and 10s! 😱 This also accounts for the big discrepancy in the Libre's prediction for my HbA1c, which was 35 mmol/mol as opposed to the actual 48 mmol/mol.

Hope that made sense! 😱 I'm not overly concerned by this, since my levels are still good and it's probably not a bad idea that I have (unwittingly) raised my levels a bit 🙂