Meters

Which Meter Do I Trust?

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One of the more “fun” pieces I recently had the opportunity to cover for Diabetes Daily was meter accuracy.

“To be fair, all blood glucose meters will only be accurate to the nearest 1 mmol/L (18 mg/dL) of a laboratory result. Which explains why two simultaneous blood glucose checks will likely produce two different results.

Most blood glucose meters must have a mean absolute relative difference (MARD) within 15 to 20 percent of laboratory results. This standard deems these devices a reliable indicator of blood glucose levels and safe to dose insulin from.

Which blood glucose meter can I trust? I conducted an experiment of sorts at home comparing all of the blood glucose monitoring devices that I currently use.”

You can see the results of my little experiment for yourself in the full column at Diabetes Daily here.

Diabetes Hacks: Four Ways With Test Strips!

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I had been using FreeStyle Optimum test strips since I was diagnosed. These were wrapped in foil, and left a lot of mess on my desk because I’m too lazy to throw them in the bin straight away. Travelling with them was a nightmare. If you’re like me and want to take 5 boxes with you in your hand luggage in case of a plane crash, this can prove to be a challenge among all the other travel junk.


Last year my diabetes educator gave me a FreeStyle Insulinx meter, and I was introduced to the world of FreeStyle Lite test strips. Quite honestly, they’ve changed my life forever. Instead of the annoying foil wrapping and bulky boxes, these test strips come in small capped vials of 50. They are so much more convenient to use on the run. 10 vials will fit much easier into my hand luggage. There’s no annoying foil wrapping to rip open before I can get to the test strip, and the blood sample required is so much smaller as well. I really notice the difference when I’m using my old Optimum Xceed meter at work. (Of course, FreeStyle is not the only brand of capped test strips you can buy).


Then there’s the mess. Test strips are so damn messy. Partly because I use so many of them. Partly because of the foil, if I’m using the Optimum ones. But mostly because I am too lazy to pick them up and throw them in the bin after each blood glucose test.

A few months ago, I had this pencil cup that I was ready to throw away. Today, it sits on my desk beside my blood glucose meter, acting as a rubbish bin for used test strips and leaving my desk clean and free from blood stains (eww, right?).


Then there’s the leftover blood on my fingers after a glucose test. I always wipe it with an alcohol swab, apply pressure with a tissue and then wash my hands.

Yeah, right!

I’m a wiper. I wipe the leftover blood on my finger against the side of my test strip, toss it into my pencil cup, and I’m good to go!

Finally, to repeat one of my favourite hacks, test strips vials make great hypo jars. My hypo brain always manages to lose count of the skittles I’ve eaten. This hack saves me so much time when I’m low and all I really want to do is shove sugar in my mouth as quickly as possible!

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Have any diabetes life hacks of your own? Post yours to Diabetes Queensland on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using #diabeteslifehacks and the team will share them during National Diabetes Week!

Perfect Since Never

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Last week, my diabetes educator gave me a new glucose meter to try out while I think about an insulin pump (I wish there was an easy answer to that question). It’s a meter that also acts as a blood glucose logbook, and calculates my insulin doses for me instead of the usual guesstimates. Unfortunately, the new meter uses a different set of test strips. Which means that if I do decide to “adopt” this meter permanently, I have a hoard of test strips (that I’ve put a lot of effort into collecting) that are completely useless. Or, I deplete my old hoard and go weeks upon weeks before I get to finally use my new meter. Wonderful!

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On the day I began using this new meter, I accidentally ripped open one of the test strips belonging to my old meter from its foil packet. I realised before it was too late, and put the unused strip back into it’s foil packet and tucked it away for next time.

Yesterday afternoon, I decided I’d use my old meter for the “odd” afternoon test. It was around 3 in the afternoon, and I’d just come home from work. I’d had lunch and given my insulin just over an hour ago, but I had a feeling that my blood sugar level might be higher than it should be. I’d probably had a few too many carbs at lunch, thanks to the Muesli bars and Old Gold dark chocolate sitting in my locker at work.

I pulled out that test strip that I’d ripped open from it’s foil packet a week ago. I pricked my finger, applied the blood to the test strip and waited. And this was the result that came back.

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I was in shock. It had been a while since I’d seen a number that low. Normally I test often enough to stop a hypo in it’s tracks, but I’m pretty confident that I can feel one coming on. Add to that the fact that I had just driven home. I couldn’t believe it. I knew that I should have been reaching for the bag of marshmallows on my desk ASAP, but I just could not believe it. 

I was in absolute disbelief.

I ripped open a fresh test strip, and tested again.

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And instantly, everything clicked.

For five years, I’ve been ripping test strips out of their individually wrapped foil packets. Ripping them open at just the right angle, to get the right end of the strip out first to stick into the meter. Without thinking twice about it.

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But it took me until today to realise that those test strips are individually wrapped in foil packets or stored in capped vials for a reason. I guess the outside air, light and temparature can wreak havoc on the results.

I love that after 5 years, I’m still learning something new about diabetes every day.

And, also this quote from Tuesday’s #OzDOC Twitter chat, just because I think it sums up diabetes perfectly.

Happy Thursday!

Access to Supplies Isn’t a Question, It’s a Right

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My Blood Glucose Meter is one of the most important things in my life. Its one of the first things that I see on my bedside table when I wake up in the morning. I’ll zip it up securely in its little black case and tuck it safely in my satchel, where it will accompany me on my daily commute. I’ll open my satchel again before I start the car, just to make sure that its there. When I get to work, I’ll place it carefully on the shelf in my locker. It patiently sits there for much of the day, ready to be at my service as much or as little as I need it. Before morning tea. Before lunch. As a post-lunchtime reassurance. If I start to sweat or shake uncontrollably. At the end of the day, I’ll tuck it safely back into my satchel, before it finds its familiar place back on my bedside table at home.

When I’m dealing with a disease that is unpredictable and ever-changing, numbers are always on my mind. They plague me throughout the day. They plague me when eat. They even plague me when I stir in the middle of the night. I’m constantly questioning myself. Thinking to myself. Doubting myself. ‘I wonder what my blood sugar level is right now? Did I give myself enough insulin at lunchtime? How much will I drop in the next hour? Am I feeling hypo? No, it must just be this afternoon’s task that’s exhausting me. Wait, maybe I am hypo? No, no way. Well, maybe…’

Last week alone I had 58 moments of uncertainty. Last fortnight there were 125. And in the last month there were 257 of them. And I have this one little device that has the power to sweep my mind clean of all the thought processes scattered there. To dismiss all of my concerns and rid me of my fears. To keep me grounded. To keep me sane. One little prick produces a number and I’m empowered again. I feel secure. I’m back in control. I know how to react.

I consider myself pretty lucky here in Oz to have unlimited access to blood glucose meter test strips, needles and other non-medication products that I use on a daily basis to manage my diabetes. Since registering with the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) upon diagnosis, I have been able to get my diabetes stuff at a heavily subsidised cost, without a doctor’s prescription, whenever I like. As little or as much as I feel I need it in order to manage my condition.

So, I’m pretty devastated to hear that some Aussies with type 2 diabetes are about to have that freedom taken away from them. If their diabetes is not treated with insulin, it will be up to their doctor to decide whether they will benefit from blood glucose monitoring after an initial 6 month supply of test strips.

Yes, a type 2 would not use blood glucose monitoring as much as a type 1. But I’ve no doubt that they would go through those exact same feelings and thought processes. I’ve no doubt that at some point during the day, the week or the month, a type 2 would need to rely on the security of a blood glucose test. If they’ve eaten something different at dinner. If they’ve done more exercise than normal. If they’re not feeling well. Diabetes causes A LOT of uncertainty.

Its like being handed a box of test strips and being told “you have 6 months to get your diabetes under control.” And then in 6 months your blood glucose meter is taken away and you’re told “you now have to keep your blood sugar levels between 4 and 8 all the time.”

Diabetes is not something that we can always “get” under control in 6 months, let alone maintain all the time. Our lifestyles are ever changing – work, travel, diet, families, physical activity – all of which have significant impacts on our diabetes. Doctors aren’t by our side 24 hours a day to see, let alone understand, what we’re going through. The only person who knows you best, is you.

We are blessed to have all of these fantastic tools available today to help us manage our diabetes. For many, a blood glucose meter gives us a sense of security and control. It should never be a question of who gets them. I only wish the people making these decisions would understand.

Source: The inspiration for this story came from Renza at the Diabetogenic blog. There are more details about this decision process over on her blog.