How can that meter be trusted
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tuckers mom
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That's normal with any meter. There were times in the past when I would test a cat, get too much blood so I would grab a second strip and test the same exact blood droplet and get a different number.
I believe a 20% variance is to be exected. So with a 100 you could expect numbers anywhere from 80-120.
The most important thing I do with all my FDs is use my meter as a guide, but watch the whole cat and see how he or she is feeling and keep notes in my log if they seemed off or they seemed really well.
I believe a 20% variance is to be exected. So with a 100 you could expect numbers anywhere from 80-120.
The most important thing I do with all my FDs is use my meter as a guide, but watch the whole cat and see how he or she is feeling and keep notes in my log if they seemed off or they seemed really well.
Yes, Sophia, that is expected with glucometers.
I've been on insulin since 1977. I've always used AccuChek products since the first meters came out in the early eighties. The 20% variance has always been true. It gives you a good feel for the trends of the blood glucose. Much more effective than urine reads which is what was available when I was first diagnosed.
I test me (and the kitties - all 7 of them) and then I look at them. Are the eyes bright? Is the fur shiny? Are they eating, peeing and pooping well? What about playing - with me and with each other? The numbers are a guide for me and for them.
Usually, I don't change a dose for either them or me based on one number. A spreadsheet helps you see where they've been and are going.
Does this help?
Claudia
I've been on insulin since 1977. I've always used AccuChek products since the first meters came out in the early eighties. The 20% variance has always been true. It gives you a good feel for the trends of the blood glucose. Much more effective than urine reads which is what was available when I was first diagnosed.
I test me (and the kitties - all 7 of them) and then I look at them. Are the eyes bright? Is the fur shiny? Are they eating, peeing and pooping well? What about playing - with me and with each other? The numbers are a guide for me and for them.
Usually, I don't change a dose for either them or me based on one number. A spreadsheet helps you see where they've been and are going.
Does this help?
Claudia
BJM
Very Active Member
If you take more than 1 measurement, you are narrowing the range in which your glucose estimate falls.
Add 20% to the lowest reading and subtract 20@ from the highest reading; the "true value" will be in the overlap range.
so with your data of 115, 124, 103
minimum + 20%: 103 + (.2 * 103) = 123.6
maximum - 20%: 124 - (.2 * 124) = 99.2
range = 123.6 - 99.2 = 24.4
Add 20% to the lowest reading and subtract 20@ from the highest reading; the "true value" will be in the overlap range.
so with your data of 115, 124, 103
minimum + 20%: 103 + (.2 * 103) = 123.6
maximum - 20%: 124 - (.2 * 124) = 99.2
range = 123.6 - 99.2 = 24.4
Christie & Willie (GA)
Very Active Member
This is how I think of it. When you get a number, it isn't actually THE number. The FDA allows up to a 20% variance on ANY meter. So....
103 isn't 103. It is a statement that the number is in the range of 82 to 124
115 isn't 115. It is a statement that the number is in the range of 92 to 138
124 isn't 124. It is a statement that the number is in the range of 99 to 149
As BJ said, multiple pokes allows you to narrow the range, because now you are dealing only in the areas the numbers overlap. Your number is somewhere in the range of 99 to 124. At the end of the day, the precise number is irrelevant. If you're in the 100-120s range, you're in the healing range. Good for you!
This gets even crazier when you're in the 300s, as the 20% variance is much wider numerically speaking
303 isn't 303. It is a statement that the number is in the range of 242 to 363.
315 isn't 315. It is a statement that the number is in the range of 252 to 378.
324 isn't 324. It is a statement that the number is in the range of 259 to 389.
So, with those three results, you know that the range is from 259 to 363. But the actual number doesn't matter. What matters is the numbers are too high and they need to come down.
Similarly, the variance is much less in the lower ranges.
63 isn't 63. It is a statement that the number is in the range of 50 to 76.
75 isn't 75. It is a statement that the number is in the range of 60 to 90.
84 isn't 84. It is a statement that the number is in the range of 67 to 100.
The number is therefore between 67 and 76. So, you know that your cat's numbers are good, but need to be watched.
This is true of any meter you use. It isn't a defect, it just is what it is.
103 isn't 103. It is a statement that the number is in the range of 82 to 124
115 isn't 115. It is a statement that the number is in the range of 92 to 138
124 isn't 124. It is a statement that the number is in the range of 99 to 149
As BJ said, multiple pokes allows you to narrow the range, because now you are dealing only in the areas the numbers overlap. Your number is somewhere in the range of 99 to 124. At the end of the day, the precise number is irrelevant. If you're in the 100-120s range, you're in the healing range. Good for you!
This gets even crazier when you're in the 300s, as the 20% variance is much wider numerically speaking
303 isn't 303. It is a statement that the number is in the range of 242 to 363.
315 isn't 315. It is a statement that the number is in the range of 252 to 378.
324 isn't 324. It is a statement that the number is in the range of 259 to 389.
So, with those three results, you know that the range is from 259 to 363. But the actual number doesn't matter. What matters is the numbers are too high and they need to come down.
Similarly, the variance is much less in the lower ranges.
63 isn't 63. It is a statement that the number is in the range of 50 to 76.
75 isn't 75. It is a statement that the number is in the range of 60 to 90.
84 isn't 84. It is a statement that the number is in the range of 67 to 100.
The number is therefore between 67 and 76. So, you know that your cat's numbers are good, but need to be watched.
This is true of any meter you use. It isn't a defect, it just is what it is.
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