Help me compare my meters please!

Status
Not open for further replies.
Charliemeow

Charliemeow

Very Active Member
I need some input deciphering the differences between my meters! I tested Charlie at +8, with both meters. I had been using the freestyle since 10-11 which marked a drop in his bg levels. So today I tested them both against each other, with vastly different results! I understand that there's a margin of error, but why did the true track read so much higher than the freestyle for Charlie, but the freestyle read higher for me and dh? Which one can I trust? Neither? Any input is appreciated! All tests were done from one blood drop, using the truetrack first, then the freestyle.
Charlie: 389 (truetrack)/ 320 (freestyle lite)
Dh: 125 (truetrack)/ 131 (freestyle lite)
Me: 101 (truetrack)/ 113 (freestyle lite)
 
i'd like someone else to confirm this but i believe the true track meter is not highly rated for accuracy so i'd probably just use the other meter.

i like my contour meter the best but some contours are known for lower readings. honestly, we're just looking for trends (whether numbers are trending up or down, fast drops or rises, etc) so the preciseness of the meter is not as much of a consideration. there is variability between meters or even between readings up to a certain percentage anyway. ease of use, smallness of blood drop needed, and cost of strips are more important to me. i buy 100 contour test strips on eBay for $30 routinely.
 
I thought the general rule of thumb for margin of error even in human meters is 20%.

So the higher the reading , the higher the variances appear to be.

So a 64 point variance for Charlie between meters would seem reasonable. A 64 point variance isn't going to change the dose in most cases. Most cases...you get into the lower numbers and yes a variance like that will potentially change the dose...but then you are out of the 20% tolerance range of the meters...

Edit: I also believe the closer you are to normal numbers the more accurate the reading too.
 
Blue is right --

The accuracy range is + or - 20% so that means:
--------------------------------------------------
Charlie: 389 (truetrack)/ 320 (freestyle lite)
Dh: 125 (truetrack)/ 131 (freestyle lite)
Me: 101 (truetrack)/ 113 (freestyle lite)
-------------------------------------------------

Charlie
...... 311 ------ 389 ++ 467 ...... (389 - 20% = 311, 389 + 20% = 467)
256 -- 320 ++ 384

Note the overlap in the ranges ----
The "true" blood sugar is somewhere between 311 and 384. Does this variation affect your dosing decision? It should not -- Safe to shoot.

100 -- 125 ++ 150
..105 -- 131 ++ 157

DH's "true" blood sugar is somewhere between 105 and 150. Does this variation affect your dosing decision? (assuming it was your cat) Again -- it should not really change your dosing decision.

81 -- 101 ++ 121
....90 -- 113 ++ 136

Your "true" blood sugar is somewhere between 90 and 121. Does this variation really change a dosing decision? No.

The bottom line -- Choose your favorite meter to use consistently and just keep the other for a spare.
 
The truetrack meters have been reported by a few members here as not being very accurate. I have tested the new freestyle lite against my relion confirm meter and it is always very close. I know others here use the freestyle lite meter as well. Hope this helps!
 
The values you reported are well within the =/- 20% accuracy and I would not do anything different (e.g., change dose) based on the different values.
 
Thanks for the input everyone. I guess what really confused me is that the true track read higher for us humans and higher for the kitty. But I see what you all mean about the 20% allowable variation. I wish I preferred the true track just for the cost issue, but I guess I'll stick with the freestyle. Or maybe puck up a relion since those strips are cheap, too.
 
yeah. the value of the relion too is that you don't have to wait for strips to be mailed to you if you run out.
 
Take a look at Maui's spreadsheet. We started with true track and switched to one touch - the differences between the two meters were more than the typical 20% and there was no figuring it out.

Someone suggested and I'm passing this on to you - to stick with one meter and get rid of the other. Personally, I say dump the true track.
 
When I first got my meter (Infinity) I took it to the vet's with me when Mugsy was being tested by the doc and did my own test. I compared it to the vet's results and it was within 6 bg. That might be one way to check the meters. You could then decide which one is best for your at home testing.
 
Thanks for all the tips! I dumped the true track! But, due to cost issues I bought a relion ultima, and I'll save the freestyle as a backup. I chose the relion cuz lots of people here seem to trust it.
 
Knowing hoiw expensive the true track meter and strips were. I returned it all (opened and used) to walgreens and got a full refund. Not sure where yoiu got yours but try retunring it. Worse they will do is say no.
 
just know the ultima takes the chip code and it uses a bigger drop of blood and sips slower than the confirm, and micro. so do not get discouraged. that was the first meter I started with and will use when/if I can get hold of extra strips (without buying)
 
I just bought a new glucometer, the Walgreen's TrueResult meter. I have two diabetic cats whom I adore and love immensely and it angers me that after having used this glucometer x 5 days, one of my cats is now receiving intensive treatment for DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) and my other cat is being tested right now for DKA. Since Wednesday, 10/20, the TrueResult glucometer has consistently been reading BOTH of their glucose readings LOW. Low enough that after discussions w/ their regular vet, I was advised not to give their insulin since it is better for their glucose to be a little high than too low and at risk for a diabetic coma. After 3 days of not administering insulin based on normal to high normal glucose readings by the TrueResult glucometer, one cat began exhibiting symptoms of DKA(vomiting, lethargy, lack of appetite). Last night, we took him to the ER vet and their bloodwork confirmed that my glucometer was not reading accurately. Example: TrueResult 148/Vet bloodwork 256. Ketones were present in his urine and they started him on short acting insulin and an IV to flush out the ketones. I understand that the FDA finds a 20%+/- variance acceptable (which in this case the aforementioned reading does not fall), but when the readings are right at the point where the vet advises to refrain from administering insulin and the end result is that the cat becomes ketoacidotic and requires intensive care, THIS is where accuracy of the glucometer is important. I would not recommend the Walgreen's brand TrueResult glucometer. The readings for both of my cats are below.

Date/Time Stinker Jr
10/20, 9pm 42 -- Insulin given to Jr, no reading since he wasn't exhibiting signs/symptoms that would warrant a reading
10/21, 8am 43 171 Checked both since Stinker's glucose was so low. I was curious to see what Jr's reading was.
10/21, 7pm 56 177
10/22, 10p 177 138
10/23, 930am 191 141 Insulin given to Stinker
10/24, 9am 224 127
10/24, 9pm 147 148

Jr is in intensive care receiving treatment because he had not been given his insulin for 3 days. Stinker is at the vet now being tested. He has been receiving his insulin since 10/23. I just hope that Jr will be okay because DKA in cats can be fatal. I am preparing to purchase a better glucometer based on the posts below as well as after I have discussions w/ their regular vet. Walgreen's will be hearing from me about the "accuracy" of their glucometer once I get the bloodwork on my second cat from the vet.
 
One cat is on Lantus and currently receives 2.0 units twice a day. We are currently monitoring him daily to establish correct dosing since his insulin needs have changed. He is scheduled to have a glucose curve done at the end of this week. He was receiving 3.5 units twice daily before it was established that he needed a dosing change.

My other cat who was in the hospital for one week due to DKA is now home and is currently receiving Humulin NPH, 3 units twice daily. He was receiving 5.5 units twice daily before he was hospitalized. I am pleased to say that he is doing well, is looking and acting more and more like himself and with prayers daily, will eventually be back to 100% soon. He still has a little bit of a limp probably due to the IV he had for one week in his right front leg. He also has immense irritation (itchiness) near the site where the central line was put in. The site looks really good though without any signs of infection or inflammation. He is eating well, drinking well, a little slim after this whole ordeal but overall, my husband and I are very pleased with the outcome of his stay at the Vet Specialty Center. $5500 later and every dollar was worth it.

However, my anger w/ the Walgreen's glucometer still hasn't subsided... and I'm not sure if there is anything to pursue. I'm currently researching if there are others out there with similar experiences. I am also waiting for my new glucometer from my vet. The Abbott labs Alpha track glucometer. That's what both their regular vet and the Vet Specialty Center uses. I need something that I can trust. In the interim, I bought the Accucheck Aviva glucometer since that's what we use at my office daily with our patients and I'm assuming it's accurate since we would have heard about it from our patients if not.
 
I also performed one more comparison between the Walgreen's TrueResult glucometer and the Accucheck Aviva for one of my cats' recent readings. Here are the results:

Walgreen's 167
Accucheck 317

Whenever I take a glucose reading, I'm using both glucometers when possible just to compare. I am still appalled at the variance. How can this be acceptable even for human use?
 
There are significant differences between animal blood and human blood and that can effect the BG value depending upon how the specific meter/strip measures the glucose level. One significant difference is the distribution of glucose in the liquid part of the blood (plasma/serum) and in the red blood cells.

Species Glucose Concentration in RBCs Glucose Concentration in Plasma
Human ---------------42% ------------------58%
Canine ---------------12.5% ---------------7.5%
Feline ----------------7% -------------------93%
 
I believe the true result was compared before and found to be trash. does not give true readings for some reason. do a search for this meter
 
To Larry & Kitties,

Absolutely agree with you that there are significant differences between glucose concentrations when comparing human blood, canine blood and feline blood. And thank you for sharing that information. Very interesting statistics. This is why I am purchasing the Abbott Labs Alpha Track glucometer. It was specifically designed to measure glucose readings in dogs and cats.

However, when measuring a blood sample using one glucometer to the next at the same time, should the variances I have found be considered acceptable? I've done additional research on the Walgreen's TrueResult glucometer and just as Dian & Wheezer has stated, many have complained that the meter is not reading accurately. I think I made a poor decision in purchasing what I thought would be a good glucometer from a well known and established company. What a disappointment.

Thank goodness Junior is doing well. However, we're having difficulty with Stinker's glucose. He's all over the place; up, down, up, down. Both are going back to the vet tomorrow for a glucose curve.
 
Are you using the new strips?
I use Freestyle Lite as well. I tested the old strip and new directly with control solution, the old one is 131, and the new one is 105. I called Abbott about the lower reading, they told me the new strip uses a new tech design--it won't count other sugar (???) that is not glucose in blood, therefore it is lower and it is more accurate... (Ya??????)
Forgot to ask why there's "other sugar" in the control solution so I might call again?
I am considering a relion because I am not sure about these new strips. If you have them both and they are giving you the similar result, I may just hold it since Wal-mart is not that close to me.

By the way, I lived in Bloomington for school about ten years ago. My cat Mimi was born there and I adopted him when he was 2 months old.

Kelly & Oscar said:
The truetrack meters have been reported by a few members here as not being very accurate. I have tested the new freestyle lite against my relion confirm meter and it is always very close. I know others here use the freestyle lite meter as well. Hope this helps!
Click to expand...
 
Mimi, what was the acceptable range listed on the control solution bottle? If both the 131 and 105 are within that range then things are fine. The meter and strip accuracy is only +/- 20%.
 
It doesn't say on the solution bottle but as 83-125 on the strip container.
I thought maybe I used a bead around the tip that's a little thicker than what's in the bottle?
However I ran out the old one and I can't test another one.
Plus, later I found out I have to use "c" bottom on the meter for control solution (???).

Larry and Kitties said:
Mimi, what was the acceptable range listed on the control solution bottle? If both the 131 and 105 are within that range then things are fine. The meter and strip accuracy is only +/- 20%.
Click to expand...
 
The 131 was a little above the 125. The only reason to push the C button is to exclude that reading form the average and from the analysis software.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top