Is Glucometer an Accurate Sugar Testing Machine?
One of the most important parts of controlling diabetes is checking your blood sugar levels regularly with a sugar testing machine. It is the simplest method for identifying and tracking patterns in blood glucose levels and provides you and your doctor with crucial information to help modify your treatment strategy and dietary advice. Your sugar testing meter must display precise data to complete this crucial task.
How do you determine the accuracy of your sugar testing machine, though?
Reliable Glucometer Reading
A sugar testing device’s accuracy does not mean it will display your precise blood glucose value or show the same result if you perform numerous tests. Instead, meter accuracy is assessed by how closely it matches test findings obtained concurrently with your blood glucose meter measurement.
Results from accurate glucose meters are within 15% of what the lab results will show 95% of the time. This implies that if your lab test results indicate that your blood glucose level is 170, the blood sugar fasting normal range from your glucose meter must be between 145 and 195 to be considered accurate.
Although the blood glucose results provided by a sugar-testing device are not exact measurements, they are made to provide you with reliable readings so that you may make daily treatment decisions when you are not in a doctor’s office.
Why is Accuracy in Blood Glucose Meters So Crucial?
A sugar testing machine’s accuracy is crucial for several reasons:
- More trust in your current diabetes treatment strategy and improved data reliability.
- It helps you comprehend and/or prepare for potential blood findings when you go for a checkup.
- Informs you of factors that affect your blood sugar.
- Episodes of hypo- or hyperglycemia can be recognized using accurate meters.
- It can aid in making decisions about medicine dosage.
Factors Affecting the Accuracy of Sugar-Testing Machine
Your glucose meter’s accuracy is susceptible to a variety of factors.
Sugar Testing Strips
The glucose in your blood reacts with the enzymes on the test strip when you use it. An electrical current results from the release of electrons. The meter then translates that into a glucose concentration to give you a reading.
Your test strips may be quite sensitive to variations due to the complexity of this process. Also, inaccurate results may be an outcome of the test strips that are:
- Expired or damaged
- Exposed to moisture or heat
- Are not intended for your meter
- The sample/test area has contaminations
Environmental Factors
Environmental factors can impact the chemistry of your test strips and the flow of your blood. Here is how:
Enzymes, which are active parts of the test strip chemistry, can be sensitive to temperature and humidity. Extremes in temperature and humidity can reduce enzyme activity and impact the reliability of results.
Your body also responds differently at various temperatures. High temperatures can leave you dehydrated and raise your blood sugar levels, whilst low temperatures can influence circulation and reduce blood flow to the areas where you’ll be taking the test.
As per studies, devices may overestimate or underestimate glucose when testing at very high altitudes. Check your device’s altitude rating if this is a concern.
Avoid exposing your sugar testing machine to extremely cold or hot temperatures. Don’t forget to leave your testing machine in the car, or they’ll be exposed to very hot or cold weather. High altitude can also impact the readings on your meter. Follow the manufacturer’s directions while storing your meter.
Components on the Skin
Your blood sample and test strip could both be contaminated by anything you touch or even put on your skin. As many contemporary meters use a micro-sized blood sample, even touching anything with sugar and failing to wash your hands can impact your readings. The water still on your fingers after a hand wash and incomplete drying of your hands can further dilute the sample.
Your Test Strip’s Blood Content
An incorrect reading or inaccurate blood sugar fasting range results could come from too much or insufficient blood in the test strip sample region.
Location of the Testing Site
The findings of tests performed at other locations (such as your forearms, calves, or thigh) are frequently less reliable than tests performed with your fingertip because of the physiological variations in the circulation of other parts of your body. This is because each area of the body receives frequent blood circulation. Alternate sites might not pick up changes in your blood sugar as rapidly as the fingertip if you’ve recently exercised, eaten, or taken medicine that could reduce your glucose.
Erroneous Coding
If a meter requires coding, you must enter a code printed on each test strip vial to calibrate it before use. Inaccurate code matching could result in readings that are not accurate.
Variations in the Meter
Every meter sold today to test blood sugar fasting range has a unique calibration procedure, set of enzymes, and set of computer programs. Even across product lines from the same manufacturer, each brand’s manufacturing, chemistry, and calibration procedures can vary. Your results may differ significantly if you use a different brand or model of meter in the morning than at night.
Maintain the Efficacy of Your Sugar Testing Meter
It is crucial to adhere to the necessary instructions to ensure that the readings are exact and accurate, regardless of whether this is your first sugar-testing machine or whether you’ve used one before.
Carefully read the manufacturer’s instructions to get accurate readings. A wide variety of meters are available in the market to assist people with diabetes in frequently and precisely monitoring their blood glucose levels. Make sure you take the time to familiarise yourself with the available options and contact your doctor or nurse for advice if needed.
