I tested my blood sugar 2 times tonight and got a result of 578 and 575, but when my husband called the paramedics (my blood pressure was high also) and they tested my blood sugar was 397. i have a brand new meter and have ran a control test on it. so how do i know what my actual sugar level is ?
Generally speaking, glucose meters should be accurate. However, meters display varying ranges of values. It could be that your meter doesn’t differentiate high values well, so you should refer to the meter manual again to understand how to interpret its specific meter readings. Also, even the smallest factors can influence the results. Here are a few specific tips to make sure your readings are accurate:
Is the meter dirty?
Did you wash your hands before testing?
Is the meter and strip at room temperature? Heat and humidity can affect the results.
Has the test strip expired? Vials tend to expire 3-6 months after being opened.
Was the blood drop too small?
If your meter requires coding, is the meter set to the code number that matches the number on your vial of test strips?
Did you run the control solution to test if the current box of strips is working properly with the meter?
Finally, there remains the possibility that your glucometer is defective.
For more information, here is a great FDA web site that covers many aspects of glucose meters, including tips on making sure your meter works well -
http://www.fda.gov/diabetes/glucose.html#8
As I’m sure you already understand, the reading from the paramedic is still very high and you should discuss this with your physician. Also, since testing routines can change over time, you might want to show your doctor your testing practices to ensure testing is accurate.
Good luck.
Comments
my meter
I went for a blood test one day at the lab and i got a phone call that night from the doctor because it showed my blood sugar was in the 40's. My meter showed it was good before i went in to have the test so the next day we tested on 3 meters at the doctors officer. Mine came out totally different than theirs did although theirs didn't match either but were fairly close. I sent my meter back to the company and they sent me another. I got something from them a couple of weeks later saying my meter checked out ok. I have no idea what the problem was. I think, on average, they are fairly accurate though.
thanx
sending the meter back is a good idea...i never would have thought of that. i ran a control check on mine and it was working right.it is a new machine. i just had it up graded to a newer model and have never had trouble with this brand before. i have a breeze 2. the discs for it are new.the machine was clean, so were my hands.so maybe the machine is defective. it just has me concerned because i don't know for sure now how high my surgar is.. i just know i always feel bad.. and could always check my sugar to see if that is why. i knew that if it came out ok that my blood pressure was the problem. thanks for the info.
me too
I have the Breeze 2 meter. This is the one i had problems with but the company is great and they replaced it right away. My problem is that my insurance will still only pay for the old discs that read in 30 seconds but they still work on the new machine.
cherylgarman
i really like the breeze. my diabetic supply company wanted to send me a free meter but it wasn't the breeze2 wich i had just recieved for free. i told them no.. it i just more convient than the other meters because you only have to change strips every ten testings.i don't understand why your insurance won't pay for the wheels for the breeze 2. sounds kind of foolish of them.especially since the cost of the wheels for both machines are the same price.