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MyFitnessPal Community

Blood Glucose Meters

bdubya55

Have a question or comment regarding your meter, testing results or test strips? Share your experience here.

Replies

AarchAngel

I use Bayer contour next, love that I can log insulin and carbs as well and hook up to pc usb and print out weeks worth and give it to my Dr. Very accurate, no more than 5 points either way in multiple tests.

zcb94

sandign wrote: »

I've been using the Bayer Contour Next and forgot to order more strips. So I bought the ReliOn model and boy is it high and all over the place. The strips asre reasonable but I persoanlly think the accuracy is way off on mine. I can take it 3 times in 15 minutes and it goes from 98 to 124 to 110. Not just once but several times.

I order my Bayer stips on Amazon because they are less than 1/3 of the price from other places. I can't wait for them to arrive and this time I've been sure that I have enough.

Also going to try and find some control solution for the ReliOn to check it out. My local Walmart did not have any. Go figure.

Wish my ticker would start working again.

Thanks for the tip. I too ran out of Bayer Contournext strips and switched to an Accucheck Compact Plus. This brings me to my questions: I hear that Alternate Site Tests hurt less, but how do I know if I have an AST safe meter? Where on the arm do I do one? My last attempt produced no blood but gave me a round pink scar, as shown below:

What did I do wrong?

BarneyRubbleMD

I've just recently got a new blood glucose meter (CVS Advanced--$18 for the meter, $23 for 100 test strips) to replace my old FreeStyle Freedom Lite meter that's several years old. Since I had both meters and a lab blood test coming up, I decided to do a comparison by taking my blood sugar measurements 4 times with each meter immediately after my blood was taken for the lab test (i.e. each finger got "poked" with a lancet in 2 different locations). Those results are below:

FreeStyle Freedom Lite meter readings: 85, 105, 99 & 97 (average 96.5).
CVS Advanced meter readings: 101, 101, 100 & 99 (average 100.25).
Lab reading: 96.

So, my new meter (CVS Advanced) is about 4 mg/dL higher than the reading from the lab (& seems more consistent) but both meters are well within the 15% accuracy requirement to the lab measurement.

One reason I decided to change to the CVS Advanced glucose meter (rather than stick with my old one) was because of the "meal tagging" feature it has. This feature lets me "tag" (i.e. mark) each meter reading with a "meal tag" for pre-breakfast, post-breakfast, pre-lunch, post-lunch, pre-dinner, post-dinner or bedtime and provides "meal tag" 14-day averages (& standard deviations) for each of those "tag groups" making it very easy to keep track of how my pre-meal & post-meal glucose readings are doing. The other reason I switched to the CVS Advanced meter is the much cheaper cost of the test strips (CVS online store has had these on sale for as low as $0.16 per test strip).

Crazycatladytracey

I was using one touch vita for 5 years and last month my new diabetes nurse changed it to one touch Verio. Now I get a letter telling me that the hospital have changed the meters for a lot of people including mine. I'm now using Braun meter but all results are high. Checked using the Verio and results are way out. Told my dr and he says to stick with the Braun meter.

wilvoeka

scubasuenc wrote: »

I was at a Diabetes Fair this week and spoke to one of the reps from one of the manufacturers. She said that most of the store brand generic meters measure whole blood glucose while the name brand meters measure plasma glucose. She said plasma glucose levels are closer to what you would get in a lab test. I didn't realize there were two measuring methods that yielded different results.

ALL home meters measure whole blood, some brands calibrate them to show results as if they were plasma readings(ie about 10 points higher).

Since I don't use insulin I am not overly concerned with precision accuracy(I am more concerned with averages over time). I have 3 meters. A One Touch Vario that the doctor gave me, and the insurance pays for test strips(50 a month), a Relion Prime because the strips are only $9 per 50, and a TRUEresult the pharmacist a Walgreens gave me for free and I keep using it because it was tested as the most consistent meter on the market, and strips from amazon are $30 for 200.

melissa7662

My meter showed 141 and the Dr office showed 168. Same site (enough blood for both samples).

This just blows my mind.

I use the one touch ultra 2 and now have no idea if I should trust it.

BarneyRubbleMD

melissa7662 wrote: »

My meter showed 141 and the Dr office showed 168. Same site (enough blood for both samples).

This just blows my mind.

I use the one touch ultra 2 and now have no idea if I should trust it.

That's not bad--especially if your Dr's office was also using a hand-held meter to get that 168 value rather than from a
blood test (i.e. where they fill up a tube of blood).

Most hand-held meters are only accurate to +/- 20% and those readings are within that--some meters specify their accuracy at +/- 15% of
what is obtained from a lab blood draw (i.e. fill a tube).

I'll admit that it "blows my mind" too when I take multiple readings (say 3 to 5, one right after the other) and see a +/- 15% variation, especially
when my blood sugars were coming in at around 200 mg/dL with the meter ranging from 170-230 mg/dL & having to accept that with
today's blood glucose meters--I would have expected those devices to be accurate to +/- 5% or at least +/- 10%, especially for diabetics
who are injecting fast-acting (i.e. Humalog) insulin with each meal.

RainaProske

I am new to taking care of my diabetes 2, so much of what I read here is very informative and appreciated! My meter is the One Touch VerioIQ.

sheilaparsleyministries

I'm using the Walgreens Meter

liznotyet

thanks for posting this. I use the Verio and got one finger at 92 then another at 116 this morning. I had no idea they could be so variable.

Arleen316

Has anyone tried the Dario tester that is supposed to connect to your iPhone? Looks interesting, but I can't find the app that goes with it in the App Store- wanted to read reviews.

shinycrazy

Arleen316 wrote: »

Has anyone tried the Dario tester that is supposed to connect to your iPhone? Looks interesting, but I can't find the app that goes with it in the App Store- wanted to read reviews.

I just googled the dario system and that is really cool!! I'm lucky that my insurance covers my testing supplies, but the price point for this is pretty awesome if you don't have good insurance coverage.

EdinTx

I use the iHealth BG5. It's paired with my phone. It works well for me and I haven't had a problem with it. Testing and taking readings throughout the day is still new to me. I'm still trying to figure out how I feel and comparing that to my blood glucose level. I'm noticing that when I feel really jittery, but low energy, my level is too low. It usually happens before lunch or late afternoon. I've had readings in the 50s when I've felt the shakes. Sometimes, it comes on without warning and it happens quickly. Does that happen to anyone else?

anewken

Yes. I have to be careful that it doesn't hit me during a workout at the gym. Over the years I've learned to recognize the feelings when my bg is low 80s or high 70s. I will stop what I am doing to take a measurement to confirm and then eat something to boost my bg. This is what just happened. I am mid workout.

ConleighS

Here's a question. Other than buying multiple meters is there a way to recalibrate a meter to make sure it is reading correctly?

BarneyRubbleMD

ConleighS wrote: »

Here's a question. Other than buying multiple meters is there a way to recalibrate a meter to make sure it is reading correctly?

Some meters have a "control solution" available. My CVS Advanced meter had this available (from Amazon, I think) to verify that it's still calibrated but if it's not, there's nothing that can be done except to replace the meter.

Other that that, I think the best thing to do is to take your meter along to the Dr's office when they do your next blood draw for the lab blood test and at that time, take 3 to 5 readings with your own meter and average them and compare that average with what your Dr's lab gets. For example, My CVS Advanced meter averages a bit high (5%-10%) compared to what my Dr's office get back from their lab.

rheddmobile

Using Bayer Contour next, I buy my strips from Amazon since they are cheaper there. My A1c seems to suggest it's about right or possibly a little high. I check using testing solution every time I open a new batch of strips.

In fact I have two of the exact same meter, so that I can leave one in my purse, and if I get a reading that seems unlikely I can check one against the other. For example I got a 22 the other day which seems to have been a bad strip - second test was 88, 2nd meter read 91. The two meters have never been more than a few points off from each other.

I have also gotten very high readings when the meter was left in my purse in the car - it was only about 80 degrees outside and the meter did not seem hot to the touch but apparently it was hot enough to affect accuracy. Checked against testing solution (which has a range from 117 to 138) and it read 170 something. So, be aware this meter is not accurate when it's too warm.

RalfLott

rheddmobile wrote: »

Using Bayer Contour next, I buy my strips from Amazon since they are cheaper there. My A1c seems to suggest it's about right or possibly a little high. I check using testing solution every time I open a new batch of strips.

In fact I have two of the exact same meter, so that I can leave one in my purse, and if I get a reading that seems unlikely I can check one against the other. For example I got a 22 the other day which seems to have been a bad strip - second test was 88, 2nd meter read 91. The two meters have never been more than a few points off from each other.

I have also gotten very high readings when the meter was left in my purse in the car - it was only about 80 degrees outside and the meter did not seem hot to the touch but apparently it was hot enough to affect accuracy. Checked against testing solution (which has a range from 117 to 138) and it read 170 something. So, be aware this meter is not accurate when it's too warm.

I'm with you all the way - great meter! I have four (got 2 free from my endo), and they're always quite close using the same strips from the same sample.

But be sure to get the Contour NEXT (not the plain old Contour, which is inconsistent and no cheaper).

PS I believe most meters have an "accurate" temperature range buried somewhere in the microtype in the package insert.

RalfLott

18 Glucose Meters Reviewed

https://www.diabetestechnology.org/surveillance.shtml

The majority received an unsatisfactory rating.

Of the 2 Walmart Relion models, 1 passed (Relion Confirm) and failed (Relion Prime).

The top score went to Bayer's Contour Next (but the previous model, Contour, failed).

Hearts_2015

RalfLott wrote: »

18 Glucose Meters Reviewed

https://www.diabetestechnology.org/surveillance.shtml

The majority received an unsatisfactory rating.

Of the 2 Walmart Relion models, 1 passed (Relion Confirm) and failed (Relion Prime).

The top score went to Bayer's Contour Next (but the previous model, Contour, failed).

Thank you for posting this I was going to Google this after a couple meters were mentioned on the A1C thread. I've been using the One Touch Ultra for many years, no particular reason other than it's the brand I started with. Apparently with the most expensive strips..

You made my search much quicker :laugh: Thanks again @RalfLott Can't wait to look up the meter I've been using all these years One Touch just to see how far to the bottom it might be.

Both of the ones you shared were the ones discussed in the A1C thread so now I'm even more interested.

zcb94

I'm looking at one of those bloodless/painless glucometers "as seen on TV" for my next one. Thoughts?

jasummers76

Relion Prime from Walmart 18$ for a two pack of 50 test strips and you can test using your arm. I prick right above my wrist no more sore finger tips..

mickj2018

I use the reli-on prime from walmart aswell. It seems to be very accurate and definitely the most economical. My insurance company only covers the truemetrix such a waste of time not accurate at all. Dr gave me a contour next and I loved it. The Bluetooth connectivity to the app for it rocked made it easy to follow my results but the test strips are twice the price of the reli on.

RalfLott

mickj2018 wrote: »

I use the reli-on prime from walmart aswell. It seems to be very accurate and definitely the most economical. My insurance company only covers the truemetrix such a waste of time not accurate at all. Dr gave me a contour next and I loved it. The Bluetooth connectivity to the app for it rocked made it easy to follow my results but the test strips are twice the price of the reli on.

FYI, you can buy soon-expiring Contour Next strips off Amazon and eBay at much lower prices than pharmacies offer...

mickj2018

RalfLott wrote: »

mickj2018 wrote: »

I use the reli-on prime from walmart aswell. It seems to be very accurate and definitely the most economical. My insurance company only covers the truemetrix such a waste of time not accurate at all. Dr gave me a contour next and I loved it. The Bluetooth connectivity to the app for it rocked made it easy to follow my results but the test strips are twice the price of the reli on.

FYI, you can buy soon-expiring Contour Next strips off Amazon and eBay at much lower prices than pharmacies offer...

I did that a couple times but I'm bad about waiting till I'm about to run out before I remember to get more strips so waiting for delivery is not always an option. I found out you can log your glucose readings in your food diary on here though so I've been doing that at every meal.

RalfLott

I should mention the Freestyle Libre - gives you painless readings 24/7, with reduced numbers of fingersticks as a check on accuracy. (You attach a sensor to your skin and can read it with your cell phone for 14 days.)

The insights from trends, spikes, and reactions to various foods, sleep, stress, etc., are still surprisring almost a year down the road!

mypixiedesigns

I primarily use a OneTouch VerioFlex because I like the app. I also have the OneTouch Verio IQ. I have tested side by side multiple times and the tend to be within 5 points if I use the same batch of strips.

mskatz1966

mskatz1966
Member
Posts: 27
Member
Hi; I am a 75 year old diabetic; now under strict weight management guidance at the Palo Alto Medical Clinic--Encina boutique practice; have been meeting for 5 weeks+, on a weekly basis with a brilliant, warm nurse practitioner, who has almost 15 years of experience with weight management--
Started with her at 247.6--weighed today on my scale a 227.1; have gone off glipizide; last A1c in March was7.3;
now taking Trulicity for several months--appetite suppressant as well as diabetic medicine.
Now using free style libre sensor for a month--new sensor is giving me wrong low glucose blood readings--almost 50 pts. below one touch ultra 2 glucometer; yesterday evening--69 on reader--113 on glucometer; late evening after diiner 105 on reader--179 on one touch; this morning 77 on free style reader and 138 on glucometer;
anyone with experience with Abbott Labs.

P.S Have been weighing and measuring for about 3-4 weeks with my fitness pal--started at 138.7--now 227.1 on my scale.

Was about 250 lbs for a long time--as recently as March.

mskatz1966

Any view of Abbott Labs' free style 14 day sensors--two fell out the first day; another gve very faulty readings and had to be replaced! They want a ton of information on the phone--will try to get two more replaced!

mskatz1966

Still replacing sensors at a ridiculous clip; last one did not scan properly--from yesterday; 4 replaced; will ask for 5th. They do replace them but it is a hassle every time. Now on a 30 minute hold to contact them.