Saturday, January 15, 2011

I am a diabetic but my home blood glucose measurements are always different from the ones done in the doctor’s office. Why?

The accuracy of blood glucose meters improves when they are used appropriately. So patient education on correct use and evaluating the results is important. Some of the most frequent errors at home in when using blood glucose machines include a soiled or contaminated meter, use of expired test strips, too little sample size and the failure to calibrate the machine prior to use. 
There are many glucose meters available and new models are constantly being released. The majority of newer machines are all calibrated with plasma glucose and thus the values obtained at home can be compared to the laboratory values.  Like all electronic devices, glucose machines are mainly distinguished based on their features. These features include the blood sample site, duration of test time, memory capability, ability to download data, alternate site testing and various software. Other machines can also help record your medications, doses, calorie intake and how much exercise you perform. Some of the latest devices even have voice prompts for the visually handicapped.

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