OK, hoping some of you medical professionals can assist me once again..... Type one diabetic and have been since 2001 or so. I test 4-5 times per day and have always been pretty consistant with my BS numbers (and signs and symptoms of high/low sugars).
I have an older model Accucheck Blood sugar meter and it still uses control solution to make sure its working properly. I threw out the directions a billion years ago but received a bottle of control solution recently from my medical supply company to test for meter accuracy. Its says that the low range is 70-100, medium range is 100-200 and high range is 200-300.
I ran a control test and it read 93 (low range)....Does this mean that any tests of my blood sugar that I'm checking could be reading slightly lower than they actually are??? For instance, I just checked my actual blood sugar, the reading was 62 (low for the normal range) but I'm not feeling any symptoms of low blood sugar. Could it actually be more in the normal range, but because the meter is older and the control test indicated a low reading that all my reading are maybe 20 off??
Darn it I really just need to suck it up and get a new meter!!!
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...Thanks always for the great advice ladies!
I always find I get the best information by calling the Accu-Chek number, 1 800 858 8072. They can also help with replacements which I have found are free.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE call Accucheck directly. (And I say this although my husband works for the competition!) The manufacturer really wants to hear from you, and has nice people to help.
One time my father-in-law told us something like what you just did, and after he left I told my husband "You know the FDA considers that conversation a reportable event" (I worked in biotech for 9 years) and my husband realized it was. So he called the complaints line while it was fresh in his head.
The deal was my father in law was storing his testing strips in a hot motor home, not the fridge, and he was getting false high readings. (but boy was it making him a saint for what he was eating).
okay, so TOTALLY the customer's fault, right?
Nope, the little butterfly company rewarded him with a pack of test strips for calling.
J&J has done recalls over their manuals being confusing. So PLEASE, call! They want to hear from you!
ALSO, most companies will give you a free meter (they just get your $$ on strips) so please TAKE CARE!
Ask your doctor to give you a new meter or ask your pharmacist how you can get a complimentary meter. My husband and my 2 kids all use the Bayer Contour meter and I think it blows AccuCheck out of the water!
l would get a new meter. Look in your coupon papers and cvs bulletins when theres one onsale. Or go throught the medical supply I hear you can order them too if your a diabetic some companies will give you a free one. I picked up one at kroger ad to pay 2 dollars for it because I have a 20 dollar off coupon. Good Luck but I would get a new one.
I would try their website or calling them and asking. The accucheck we use at our hospital has a low solution & a high solution, and when we do them they either pass or fail, it doesn't give us a number. So I'm not sure how to interpret your results.
sorry!
D. rn
Google the maker of the glucometer. They will have an 800 phone number. Call them and the customer service rep will walk you through how to do the control test step-by-step. I have done this before and it was a breeze.
well its many angles to consider in this question.the meters do get old and can need to be updated. Are you type one or type two DM. Yes your blood sugar can be that low and you not been symptomatic. Do you know all the signs and symptoms it can be as suttle as being forgetful losing your train of thought, to cool clammy skin confusion or nausea. if you feel this way or are unsure keeping hard candy with you or glucotabs are a good idea. Being diabetic is nothing to take lightly I have seen very unpleasant results from not having good control. its important to know your blood sugar levels DAILY. eat right and take any prescribed medications. Invest in a new monitor. Im sure you can find a promotion on line to get it for less. the hosptial usually gives them away as well when people are discharged and inform the nurse or social worker you dont have one. hopes this helps
RN
It is possible to have 62 and no symptoms. That happened to me a few time and my grandmother often. However since your meter is old, I'd suggest getting a new one. They are not that expensive. Or test it compared to one at your doctor's office and see how they compare (it will be a bit different, but should be close).
