Diabetes Monitor - Perhaps This Particular Machine Is Defective?

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Publication Date: 12/3/2005

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Question

My 66 year old wife, who has type 2 diabetes, recently joined a new insurance plan and was required to use a new blood glucose meter. She noticed that the readings seemed very high, so she has started to test at the same time with the old meter, and the readings differ by 7-22 mg/dL [0.4-1.8 mmol/L]. Is this common? Perhaps this particular machine is defective?

Answer

I doubt that the meter is defective, but it's possible. Blood glucose meters are designed to read within 10-15% of lab values. So, you can judge by what your wife's level was at the time on the other meter. You can test both meters for accuracy by using the control solution that came with them. If the values are within the established range, the meter is operating properly. If not, call the manufacturer, and I'm sure they will replace it.