Why blood sugar meter gives significantly different results when tests are taken at a time from different fingers of the same hand?

[Gardenia]

[tejkumar]

kindly highlight me on this fantastic question, I never knew about this; does not strike to anyone about variation in Meter readings if obtained from different fingers. Excellent query. Pls share info. it'd be an eye-opener and BTW - (By The Way) where are U based/which city do you live in?????/ write to me outside public domain at: [e-mail] Many thanks a million in advance. R U too diabetic? since how long??????

[Gardenia in reply to tejkumar]

My observation was probably different because I did not perform the test using the same parameter i.e. same finger.It's beyond our realm to get into the subject of why different sugar levels exist in our different fingers although blood mass is same.

Best way is to follow standard test procedure which is explained by Anoop to my querry.

[Gardenia in reply to tejkumar]

Pls refer to Nitin's view on the subject.Thats interesting.

[ShooterGeorge]

Blood sugar is varying every second. You can not take blood sample from different fingers at the same time without the help or others. If you have done the tests yourself sample is taken at different times. More over different strips will have different chemical states. The literature of my meter says that for PAIR TEST OF FBS & PPBS you must buy PAIR STRIPS.

[Gardenia in reply to ShooterGeorge]

Agreed that blood sugar varies every second but it's the same mass of blood in different fingers.The time elapsed between 2 draws was immedite one after other using same brand and batch strips.Still the results variation was alarming.

I wondered (1) is there any standard procedure to collect the sample.(2) Which is the ideal finger?(3) Who are standard manufacturers of this equipment.

Gardenia

[ShooterGeorge in reply to Gardenia]

I think you did not notice the UPPER CASE in my reply. "The literature of my meter says that FOR PAIR TEST OF FBS & PPBS you must buy PAIR STRIPS". Which means strips of same PACKET need not have identical chemical status. They might even be mixing strips from different batches in same packet to make you think that BS varies every time you do a test. Otherwise why should they print that foe making FBS&PPBS test one must buy pair strip specifically. My machine's literature describes the sites to be used for extracting blood.

In my case every next prick is on next finger. I keep a serial number list in a notebook for glucometer tests at home. So test number X1 (that is 01, 11,21,31 etc) means the finger on which we count one - that is left hand small finger; test X5 means left hand thumb; test X8 means right hand middle finger; test X0 means right hand thumb etc.

If you want to calibrate your meter there are two ways. (1) Do a test with your meter either immediately before or immediately after a lab test (or by borrowing a bit blood from the sample drawn by the lab!!??) (2) My meter was brought from USA to India by my daughter as a gift to me. Its literature says that "control solution" of known sugar level is available. Using it occasionally one can confirm the correctness of the meter readings.

[SETUK99999 in reply to ShooterGeorge]

Hey George, Nice Explaination, Can you please specify company name of the Glucometer you use ? Better if you can mail too.

My Mail :-

[e-mail]

Thanks a lot.

[Gardenia]

Thanks for explaining this standard procedure.I believe one should subject the same finger for taking both pre & post tests.

Gardenia

[Gardenia]

Your inputs are valuable which will help me getting more reliable test results.Very much appreciate.Thank You.

[Gardenia]

Pls see Nitin's view which is scientific and more lodgical.

[Gardenia]

Appreciate your practical point of view which is good to follow.Thanks.

[clickme]

There is always a minor difference bound to happen between pathological & digital meter to the extent of 5 to 10.

Fingers,location are irrelevant in my opinion as I've tried all these.

Inorder to confirm that our measurements are close to accuracy or near to lab. tests the following may be done :

1. The base where the strip is placed on the meter has to be kept clean always... as blood spots may this reading point dirty and contaminated with stains.

2.After the test is made, the strip has to be compared with the color change on the strip with the color code on the container of the strips.

3.The reading synchroniser strap has to be changed in the meter everytime a new container is opened. (this comes with the container ).

4 Digital meter test can be performed just before pathological test sample is drawn in the lab. to cross check the readings.

After all there are variations between lab to lab & person to person.. We go by what we get !!!! ????

[Gardenia]

Thanks for the guidance.Really appreciate the idea of self checking sugar level before the outsourced lab test.

Gardenia

[Gardenia]

The difference was 8-10 points and it mattered more when it showed more than the max sugar level prescribed limits.

Gardenia