Top 10 Reasons Diabetes Glucose Meters Will Read Wrong!

Summary

Dr. Ahmed Ergan explains 10 common reasons for inaccurate glucose meter readings, including expired test strips, extreme temperatures, dirty or wet fingers, a filthy meter, dehydration, insufficient blood on the strip, inadequate technique, using blood from non-fingertip locations, and high vitamin C levels. He also introduces the CareSense Plus meter for its large screen and quick readings.

Takeaways

• 📅 Check the expiration date on your test strips as expired ones can lead to inaccurate results.
• 🌡️ Extreme temperatures can affect glucose meter readings, with cold meters producing low and hot meters producing high readings.
• 👐 Always wash and dry your hands thoroughly before testing to avoid contamination from sugar, dirt, or alcohol.
• 🧼 Cleanliness is crucial; a dirty meter can cause incorrect readings, so keep it clean and free from dust and contaminants.
• 💧 Dehydration can lead to higher glucose levels, so ensure you are well-hydrated before testing your blood sugar.
• 🩸 Apply a generous drop of blood to the test strip for accurate readings; avoid adding more blood after the initial drop.
• 🔌 Ensure the test strip is fully inserted into the monitor, check batteries, and replace the monitor every 4-5 years for accurate readings.
• 👆 Use blood from your fingertip for testing, as it is more accurate than blood from other body parts, especially when blood sugar levels are rapidly changing.
• 🍊 High doses of vitamin C can interfere with glucose meter readings, causing them to read falsely high.
• 🛠️ Regularly test your glucose meter with control solution to ensure its accuracy and maintain its reliability.

Q & A

Why might glucose meter readings be inaccurate?

Glucose meter readings can be inaccurate due to various factors such as expired test strips, extreme temperatures, dirty or wet fingers, a filthy meter, dehydration, insufficient blood on the strip, inadequate technique, using blood from non-fingertip locations, and interference from high levels of vitamin C.

What is the first reason mentioned for inaccurate glucose meter readings?

The first reason mentioned is the use of out-of-date test strips. Expired test strips will not provide accurate results.

How should test strips be stored to maintain their accuracy?

Test strips should be stored in a cool, dry place, such as on top of a fridge or cabinet, and kept in their original container to avoid cross-contamination.

How do extreme temperatures affect glucose meter readings?

Extreme temperatures can result in inaccurate readings. Cold meters tend to produce inaccurately low readings, while hot meters produce inaccurately high readings.

What should you do before testing your blood sugar levels to ensure accuracy?

You should always wash and thoroughly dry your hands before testing your blood sugar levels to avoid contamination from sugar, dirt, or alcohol.

Why is it important to keep your glucose meter clean?

A clean glucose meter is crucial for accurate readings. Dirt, dust, and other contaminants can cause incorrect readings.

What is the CareSense Plus device mentioned in the script?

The CareSense Plus is a glucose meter with a large screen, making it easier to read for those with visual problems. It comes with a meter, lensing device, around 100 strips, and 100 lancets, including control solution.

How does dehydration affect blood sugar levels?

Dehydration can cause blood to become more concentrated, resulting in high glucose levels. Drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day is important for controlling blood sugar levels.

What should you do to ensure an accurate reading from the glucose meter?

To ensure an accurate reading, add a generous drop of blood to the test strip the first time. Adding more blood after a drop has already been present will not improve the test accuracy.

Why is it recommended to test blood sugar levels using blood from the fingertip?

Blood samples taken from the fingertip are more accurate than those from other locations such as the arm, leg, or toes, especially when blood sugar levels are rapidly rising or falling.

How can high levels of vitamin C interfere with glucose meter readings?

High levels of vitamin C can cause glucose meter readings to be falsely high, leading to inaccurate results.

Outlines

00:00

📈 Inaccurate Glucose Meter Readings: Common Causes

Dr. Ahmed Ergan discusses the top 10 reasons why glucose meters might provide inaccurate readings. He starts by emphasizing the importance of using test strips before their expiration date and storing them properly to avoid cross-contamination. He also highlights the impact of extreme temperatures on meter accuracy, suggesting that meters should be used in a room temperature environment. Additionally, he advises washing and drying hands thoroughly before testing to avoid contamination from sugar, dirt, or alcohol. Dr. Ergan also mentions the importance of cleaning the meter itself to maintain accuracy. He introduces the CareSense Plus meter, noting its large screen and comprehensive package, and demonstrates its quick and accurate readings using control solution. The video serves as a guide for diabetics to ensure reliable glucose monitoring.

05:02

💧 Hydration and Technique for Accurate Blood Sugar Testing

Continuing the discussion on glucose meter accuracy, Dr. Ergan points out that dehydration can lead to concentrated blood and falsely high glucose levels, urging diabetics to stay hydrated. He also stresses the need for a sufficient amount of blood on the test strip for an accurate reading, cautioning against adding more blood after the initial drop. Proper technique is crucial, including fully inserting the test strip into the monitor and checking the batteries and monitor condition regularly. Dr. Ergan advises replacing the monitor every four to five years. He also addresses the importance of using fingertip blood for testing, as samples from other body parts may yield less accurate results. Lastly, he warns that high vitamin C intake can interfere with glucose meter readings, causing them to appear falsely high, which is an important consideration for those managing their diabetes.

Keywords

💡Glucose Meter

A glucose meter is a medical device used for determining the amount of glucose in the blood. It is essential for managing diabetes by providing real-time blood sugar levels. In the video, Dr. Ahmed Ergan discusses how various factors can affect the accuracy of glucose meter readings, emphasizing the importance of proper use and maintenance.

💡Test Strips

Test strips are a crucial component of glucose meters, used to collect a small sample of blood for glucose level testing. The video highlights the importance of using test strips before their expiration date and storing them properly to avoid inaccurate readings, as expired or improperly stored test strips can lead to false results.

💡Extreme Temperatures

Extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, can impact the accuracy of glucose meter readings. The video explains that cold meters may produce inaccurately low readings, while hot meters may produce inaccurately high readings. It suggests that users should test their blood sugar in a room with a more moderate temperature to ensure more accurate results.

💡Dirty Fingers

Having dirty fingers can interfere with the accuracy of glucose meter readings. The video advises that users should clean their hands thoroughly before testing to avoid contamination from sugar, dirt, or alcohol, which can skew the results and lead to false readings.

💡Wet Fingers

Wet fingers can dilute the blood sample, affecting the accuracy of glucose meter readings. The video emphasizes the need to ensure that hands are not only clean but also completely dry before testing, as moisture can lead to skewed results.

💡Filthy Meter

A dirty glucose meter can also lead to inaccurate readings. The video suggests that keeping the meter clean and free from dust and other contaminants is crucial for reliable results. It also mentions that new technology has made it less common for meters to give inaccurate readings due to dirt.

💡Dehydration

Dehydration can affect blood sugar levels, making it important for individuals with diabetes to stay hydrated. The video explains that when the body lacks water, blood becomes more concentrated, potentially leading to higher glucose levels. It recommends drinking water before testing blood sugar to ensure accurate readings.

💡Insufficient Blood on the Strip

The amount of blood applied to the test strip is critical for accurate glucose readings. The video advises that adding a generous drop of blood to the test strip the first time is necessary for an accurate reading, and adding more blood after the initial drop will not improve accuracy.

💡Inadequate Technique

Proper technique is essential for obtaining accurate glucose meter readings. The video outlines steps such as ensuring the test strip is fully inserted into the monitor, checking and replacing batteries if necessary, and replacing the monitor every four to five years to maintain accuracy.

💡Failure to Use Fingertip

The location from which blood is drawn can impact the accuracy of glucose meter readings. The video emphasizes that blood samples taken from the fingertip are more accurate than those from other body parts, especially during rapid changes in blood sugar levels.

💡Vitamin C

High levels of vitamin C can interfere with glucose meter readings, causing them to be falsely high. The video warns that individuals taking high doses of vitamin C should be aware that this can affect the accuracy of their glucose meter readings, potentially leading to discrepancies between home and lab tests.

Highlights

Out of date test strips can lead to inaccurate glucose meter readings.

Test strips should be stored in a cool, dry place to maintain accuracy.

Extreme temperatures can affect glucose meter readings, with cold producing low and hot producing high results.

Dirty fingers can cause inaccurate blood sugar readings due to sugar, dirt, or alcohol.

Hands should be thoroughly cleaned before using a glucose meter for accurate readings.

Wet fingers can dilute the blood sample, leading to skewed glucose meter readings.

A clean glucose meter is essential for preventing inaccurate readings due to dirt or contaminants.

Dehydration can result in high glucose levels, affecting the accuracy of blood sugar readings.

Drinking water before testing can help ensure stable and accurate blood sugar levels.

A generous drop of blood is required on the test strip for an accurate glucose meter reading.

Adding more blood to the test strip after the initial drop does not improve accuracy.

Ensuring the test strip is fully inserted and batteries are in good condition can improve glucose meter accuracy.

Replacing the glucose meter monitor every four to five years is recommended for maintaining accuracy.

Using blood from the fingertip provides more accurate glucose readings compared to other body parts.

High doses of vitamin C can interfere with glucose meter readings, causing false high results.

The CareSense Plus meter is highlighted for its large screen, ease of use, and quick readings.

Testing the glucose meter with control solution is crucial to ensure its ongoing accuracy.

Transcripts

10 common causes of inaccurate glucose

meter readings

are you like one of my patients who

constantly claims that their glucose

readings are incorrect well most of the

time they blame the food or the

medication but most patients are unaware

that these factors actually influence

glucose meter accuracy hi my name is dr

ahmed ergan i am here today going to

teach you 10 reasons why your meter

might be giving you false readings now

number one is out of date test strips

check the expiration date on your test

strips expired ones will not provide you

with accurate results it is critical to

keep them in a cool dry place such as on

top of a fridge or cabinet where they

will be protected from direct sunlight

and to keep them in their original

container to avoid

cross-contamination with other household

items number two

extreme temperatures can result in

inaccurate readings glucose meters are

an indispensable tool for diabetics even

when you're on dexcom or libre but

they're notoriously unreliable

now temperature is one factor that can

actually influence glucose meter

readings the meter may actually give you

a false reading in extreme cold or heat

if you find that the temperature is

affecting your glucose meter try sitting

in a room that is closer to the room

temperature

and taking that reading again

according to studies

cold meters produce inaccurately low

readings whereas the hot meters produce

inaccurately high readings so it is best

to avoid extreme temperatures if you

want an accurate or more accurate

reading number three dirty fingers well

due to the presence of sugar and dirt or

alcohol on your fingers you may be in

trouble before testing your blood sugar

levels you should always wash your hands

sugar

on the finger or the dirt or alcohol can

cause all sorts of problems with

accuracy so before testing make sure to

thoroughly clean your hands

otherwise you may receive a false

reading and believe that your blood

sugar is normal when it's not and this

could have serious consequences

please

wash your hands before using a glucose

meter for the sake of your health number

four wet fingers well keeping your hands

is essential for getting an accurate

reading as we said but many people are

unaware that they actually also have to

dry their hands

simply washing your hands is not

sufficient you should also make certain

that they are completely dry before

testing your blood sugar well the reason

for that is that the blood water mixture

i mean you can figure that out yourself

it's going to dilute the blood sample

resulting in a skewed reading so the

next time you're about to test your

blood sugar make sure you thoroughly

wash your hand

and dry your hands

it is worth that extra effort believe me

number five a filthy meter

anyone who has diabetes understands the

significance of a glucose meter you rely

on them right

well this useful little device can mean

the difference between a normal day and

a hospital visit however as anyone who

has used a glucose meter before knows

the dirt the dust the other contaminants

can cause incorrect readings this was a

major issue in the past actually but the

new technology has made it much rarer to

get inaccurate reading because your

meter is dirty but you know to be on the

safe side try not to let the meter

become too dusty muddy dirty whatever

clean it up and prevent any spillage on

it with a little care your glucose meter

can be a dependable ally in your

diabetes fight

okay since we're talking about meters

today i am also going to talk to you

about this caresense

plus

so this is

the

device that i want to show you or

feature in this video

uh what i like about this uh

meter is it's it's very large screen so

if you have any visual problems or you

like large screens that's going to

really help you

the whole package comes with um

a meter a lensing device

around 100 strips

and 100 lan sets i think all of them and

including control solution too

all of that i think is around 35 which i

thought was pretty reasonable and a good

price for a very high quality meter

so um i just checked actually um

control solution because you need to

test your meter with the control

solution to make sure it remains

accurate and it gave me this reading at

134 in less than five seconds so that's

another thing that you don't have to

kind of keep waiting for your blood

sugar to come up so it's very quick very

easy uh very practical so i like all

those things about this meter

number six dehydration we are all aware

staying hydrated is critical to your

overall health but

did you know that it is also important

for controlling your blood sugar levels

when your body lacks water your blood

becomes more concentrated which can

result in high glucose levels

that's why especially if you have

diabetes it is critical to drink plenty

of fluids throughout the day if you are

unsure how much water to drink a good

rule of thumb is to drink some water

before you start testing your blood

sugars that way you will always be

hydrated and your blood sugar levels

will be stable number seven

insufficient blood on the strip well you

gotta give some generous drop of blood

on the test strip that's required for

accurate reading adding more blood to

the strip after a drop has already been

present will not improve the test

accuracy so if you want an accurate

reading from the glucose meter add a

generous drop of blood to the test strip

the first time number eight inadequate

technique

first ensure that the test strip is

fully inserted into the monitor

secondly inspect the batteries and

replace them if necessary and the third

every four to five years replace your

monitor by following these simple steps

you can actually ensure that your

glucose meter provides an accurate

reading at all times

and number nine is

failure to use your fingertip if you

test your blood sugar levels and believe

that the reading is incorrect well

there's only one thing you can do test

again right make sure you use the blood

from fingertip not from your arm not

from your legs not from your toes this

is because blood samples taken from

other locations such as your arm and leg

whatever they're not as accurate as the

fingertip samples when your blood sugar

level is especially even rapidly rising

or falling stick to fingertips if you

want to be absolutely certain that your

reading is accurate number 10 well it

appears that vitamin c can actually

interfere with glucose meter readings as

well causing them to read falsely high

so don't be surprised if your doctor

checks your blood sugar in the lab and

that is completely different from what

your glucose meter shows when you're

taking high dose of vitamin c so we have

another video about that but it is

important to know that too much vitamin

c can cause false readings on your

glucose meter well that was it 10

reasons that your meter can be giving

you inaccurate readings so if you like

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