[seschenfelder]

I am frustrated. I have a Freestyle light, which I like, but the strips are expensive. I recently misplaced a new vial, so I got a new meter with less expensive strips. (relion mini) Right after I got that, I saw my doctor, started a new medicine that could help lower my numbers(lisinopril). I never heard back that a change in my metformin was needed.

My numbers weren't really coming down, although there were sometimes good readings.

Two days ago I found the freestyle strips, and tried them. 142 fasting with relion, vs 116 with freestyle. I checked this morning, adding my mother's contour. Testing three times at once. Fun! Same drop of blood. Before lunch...contour was 179. Freestyle was 174. Relion was 213. A little variation, ok. But 174-213 AT THE SAME TEST?

I got a one touch ultra mini today. (considered the contour but the store only had packs of 100 strips).

A check before supper: one touch was 164. Relion was 155. Freestyle was 138.

Frustrating.

I'm wondering. Could I have just been unlucky with the onetouch and relion? If I got another relion, maybe a different style, might I have better luck? I have nearly 50 strips for it; I got the smallest one, 25, for the one touch.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[dpawley]

Hmmm yes the variation is troublesome to say the least.

Have you tried a second test with the same meter on the same drop? I had a contour and coud never get consistent repeatable readings so switched to theAccuChek Aviva which i believe might read slighly high but is at least consistent. Good luck!

[dano]

Do a tag search for "meter discrepancies". There are several good points in these threads.

[seschenfelder]

Dano, I'll do that as soon as my computer finishes a much needed update. (using iPod now)

I tried a second test on each meter this morning. Same drop of blood, six tests. Relion-131 and 143. One touch-144 and 163. Freestyle-119 and 116.

[dpawley]

Must be a big drop of blood

If you are squeezing too hard to get enough blood that can distort your blood sugar readings,

Althoigh for you consistency testing on your meters you should get similar results, even though they maybe unreliable readings as far as your true BG level.

ADA Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose: The Use of the First or the Second Drop of Blood

[dano]

Originally Posted by seschenfelder

I tried a second test on each meter this morning. Same drop of blood, six tests. Relion-131 and 143. One touch-144 and 163. Freestyle-119 and 116.

Originally Posted by dpawley

Must be a big drop of blood

[seschenfelder]

None of the meters takes much; usually I get more than I need.

Except for the time I stuck my finger, very gently squeezed, and blood went shooting out...on my shirt...my glasses...

[yc1972]

The contour always gave me wrong readings.. I have the one touch ultra smart which use one touch ultra blue strips. The one touch has come on top of all meters. With the most accuracy.. Thank God my insurance covers the strips because they are pricey. Stick with the one touch machines...