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The Question
05/22/09 11:28 AM

"why does a person get 2 different blood reading from right side to left side,mine can vary as much as 50-75 difference"
Asked By: bear455  

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going by my question which side should i take my test on?

Expert Answers (1)

05/22/09 09:40 PM

bear455 Blood glucose readings can vary by 12-15%. I would suggest that you do a quality control check to ensure your strips are providing accurate readings. You may purchase quality control solution from a pharmacy. You may also call the 800 listed on the back of the meter in order to check your meter. You don’t say how old your meter is, if you are having difficulty with it the company will replace it free of charge.
Answered By: Kathleen Gold
Accreditations: RN, MSN, CDE
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Community Answers (2)

05/23/09 07:56 AM

Meters by manufacturers specs can vary by as much as 20%. It was suprising but that is better than no meter like my mom had back in the 60's. Even if you take a reading from the same drop of blood you could easily get a different reading, meters are a guide they are not perfect. Think of it like a target you want to hit the bullseye but you might hit the target a bit off. Testing is a guide to show us were we are at.
Answered By: furball64801
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05/23/09 07:34 AM

This is not an issue of meter calibration. I assume that you are using the same meter and strips when you do this comparison. My gut response is that one side of you body may be more efficient in glucose uptake to the muscles. I would recommend to talk to an endocrinologist (or a general practitioner well versed in diabetes). It will probably take some specialized blood testing to determine which reading has greater value for YOU. I know that a glucose tolerance test or other runs through the gauntlet are not fun, but I definitely agree that you need to know which numbers to believe in when it comes to managing your diabetes.
Answered By: mastblaster
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*** All information contained on dLife.com is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Our Expert Q&A is not intended to be a replacement or substitute for consultation with a qualified medical professional or for professional medical advice related to diabetes or another medical condition. Please contact your physician or medical professional with any questions and concerns about your medical condition.

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