When will we get accurate diabetic monitoring devices?

Question

Diabetes is a real problem. Obesity is mentioned almost daily in the media. Still when we get type 2 diabetes and have to depend on blood glucose monitoring devices, we still have inaccurate measurements. While there are all sorts of metering devices available, all sorts of Federal regulations, all sorts of FDA testing prior to commercial release, why on earth are our lifelines to good health so inaccurate? Even national laboratories are inconsistent. Our medical professionals depend on their accuracy and we, patients, depend on our meters for good diabetic control. So why are they so wrong. Yes, meters are better than they were twenty years ago. While I am greatful that they even exist, we have such technology as to be able to get to the moon, but I can't get an accurate glucose reading much less an accurate HbA1c reading. For example, my last A1c result was 6.4 in the doctor's office while that same morning my home test was 5.9! It's just a sad state of affairs.

Answer 1

As a clinical laboratory scientist, I can tell you that it is impossible to duplicate result from device to device, the main reason being different device measure glucose and A1C using different methodology. In a clinical laboratory, we establish what we call reference range (normal value) base on the methodology we use. Therefore while the value is different, the reference range is also different from device to device to reflect the difference in methodology. Did you ask your doctor whether his clinical decision will be different between a 6.4 and a 5.9? I doubt a 0.5 different will affect any of his clinical decision.

There is something call pre-analytical error for example when you performing the glucose monitoring on your own, you might be using too much alcohol hemolyze the RBC, or squeezing too hard that you are introducing tissue fluid, or a drop of blood that is too small or too large. Also many of those glucose meter device had linearity, and when the result are too low or too high, they will give out inaccurate result, and the range of linearity is usually included in the instruction manual. Usually glucose below 40 or above 400 will cause problem. There are many factors that can affect the quality of results, if in doubt I would always trust test done in a clinical laboratory than a point of care testing device.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I'm a diabetic too from the Phil., what you are complaining of is the reading made in the doctor's office as against the reading when you get home from the doctor's office made by two different brand of instrument. Yeah right one of the guys here answered that a fraction of a second makes a difference in the reading, take note that you traveled from the doctor's office to your house how long did it took you. Probably it would have been a quarter of an hour, or maybe half an hour. Movement or any activity would always reduce the glucose present in your blood. That's why diabetics are always advice to exercise since activity burns out extra calories or sugar. And yes, activity does reduce blood glucose, I hope it helped, i have experienced it.

Answer 4

There will be always difference in readings between machine to machine. The blood pressure and the blood glucose readings depend on various factors. And they fluctuate every fraction of a second . So do not blame any standard digital machine, The machine should be reliable and from a reliable company. The method , the man behind the machine are so many factors to get accurate results. Always anything should be tested in the same machine, at the same time in the same position and without any emotions with the same method, and procedure to get correct results.

Answer 5

I don't know what you mean by 5.9. Do you mean the home HbA1c kit or 5.9 mmol/L? I don't know the norms for mmol/L. The home A1c kits are fairly new, compared to the regular glucometers, and thus probably have more variability. If you mean a high A1c with normal glucose values, it is very possible to be missing high glucoses. And if you aren't happy with something that the doctors and scientists can't change, invent the perfect machine and get rich!