Blood glucose monitor
Discussion
Can anyone recommend a blood glucose monitor that is reliable , not going to break the bank and uses test strips at a reasonable price .
I am using a Kinetik Wellbeing , used by NHS ?
The failure rate of test strips is around 20/25% and at around 32 p per strip that’s expensive . I have seen other brands with test strips half that price , also lancets wildly varying in price again depending on brand
I am also not sure I am getting consistent accurate tests, one day for instance 1.7 am 6.2 mid day with no sugars consumed between .
I am using a Kinetik Wellbeing , used by NHS ?
The failure rate of test strips is around 20/25% and at around 32 p per strip that’s expensive . I have seen other brands with test strips half that price , also lancets wildly varying in price again depending on brand
I am also not sure I am getting consistent accurate tests, one day for instance 1.7 am 6.2 mid day with no sugars consumed between .
I use accuchek mobile too.... Never had a failure with it, but the cassettes are not cheap if self funding.
Tbh, most monitors I have had over the years have been fine reliability, so I would chose a different brand.
I find my blood sugar raises every morning without any carb intake. I cycle 13 miles to work - in the morning I need no glucose and my blood sugar climbs slightly. On the way home, in the evening, I need half a pack of dextrose to get me home again without going hypo.....
As mentioned above my blood sugar also drops low during the night sometimes and my liver release glucose to allow my blood sugar to climb again. With freestyle Libre you can see this happening as it monitors your blood sugar continually.....
Tbh, most monitors I have had over the years have been fine reliability, so I would chose a different brand.
I find my blood sugar raises every morning without any carb intake. I cycle 13 miles to work - in the morning I need no glucose and my blood sugar climbs slightly. On the way home, in the evening, I need half a pack of dextrose to get me home again without going hypo.....
As mentioned above my blood sugar also drops low during the night sometimes and my liver release glucose to allow my blood sugar to climb again. With freestyle Libre you can see this happening as it monitors your blood sugar continually.....
I've got an Accu-Tek Performa (mg/dl) issued by my GP in France, an SD-Codefree and a One-Touch Select Plus (both mmol/L) both purchased in the UK. All three do have the occasion failure but not at the level you state but the results can vary wildly between monitors and even between strips on the same monitor using the same finger prick. I went through a phase of testing regularly through the day using the different monitors when I had a blood test that said my glucose was very high.
I then went and purchased a Continuous Glucose Monitor (Dexcom One) with three months of sensors, I had trouble finding a place on my torso or arm that didn't get laid on or knocked during the night so I didn't get any overnight readings because the transmitter lost contact with my phone. This also happened at various times during the day even when my phone was right next to me, because of these problems I didn't continue with it. It was useful at the beginning as it highlighted foods that caused massive glucose spikes that stayed high for long periods.
I then went and purchased a Continuous Glucose Monitor (Dexcom One) with three months of sensors, I had trouble finding a place on my torso or arm that didn't get laid on or knocked during the night so I didn't get any overnight readings because the transmitter lost contact with my phone. This also happened at various times during the day even when my phone was right next to me, because of these problems I didn't continue with it. It was useful at the beginning as it highlighted foods that caused massive glucose spikes that stayed high for long periods.
The problems may be operator error , I am about a month in using the monitor.Whilst looking for alternative . I found a snippet of information on Amazon ,which was not made clear in the instruct booklet that came with the tester .I had been introducing the sample to the tester incorrectly ,I was dabbing the blood on the test strip and not introducing the end of the strip to the small sample on my finger ,bingo quicker tests and no failures
Doh
Also the greater the quantities of strips you buy the cheaper they are
Doh
Also the greater the quantities of strips you buy the cheaper they are
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