Useful Information on Blood Glucose Meters

Replace Your Meter Every 2-3 Years

Diabetes Ireland encourages people to register their meters so that the company can alert you if any upgrades or issues arise. It is recommended that meters be changed every two years.

Where can I get Batteries for my meter?

Batteries or replacement meters and results logging diaries can be posted out free of charge from the meter provider. Some meters have a USB port and can be charged via a USB cable, and so don’t require batteries.

If my meter breaks

All companies have a customer care line; this number can be found on the meter itself, the box it originated from, or the lancet and testing strip box. They will replace meters if necessary, free of charge, or talk you through the problem over the phone.

** Irish blood glucose meters read in millimoles per litre (mmol/L) like most of Europe.

Meter Accuracy

You can verify that your glucose reader and test strips are working together properly using the control solution that usually comes with the meter. If not, you can get the control solution directly from the manufacturer.

It is recommended that you check the accuracy of your meter’s readings at least once a year by comparing a fasting reading with a reading done at the same time in a laboratory. Consult a health professional about the acceptable variance between the two readings. Also, always follow your meter’s user instructions.

Tips for Accurate Testing

  • Lancets should be replaced often. Fresh lancets hurt less.

  • Where possible, wash hands with warm water and soap before testing.

  • Never keep your meter or strips in direct sunlight.

  • Your test strips and glucose meter must be in good condition to avoid false readings. Make sure that:

    • The expiry date printed on the test-strip container has not been reached or exceeded

    • The test-strip container was not left open after you took out a test strip

    • The test strips are in their original container

    • The test strips have been kept away from moisture and stored at a temperature between 4 and 30 degrees Celsius

    • The test strips have not been contaminated by dust or other substances

    • There is no dust or dried blood on the opening of the test strip

    • The glucose meter has not been left in direct sunlight

    • The glucose meter has not been exposed to moisture or to temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius or higher than 30 degrees Celsius

There are more tips on when to check your glucose level here from the Mayo Clinic in the US.

Alternative site testing using a Blood Glucose Meter

The blood glucose meter can be used to check glucose in places other than your fingers. This is known as alternative site testing AST. However, “alternate site” monitoring tends to produce significantly less accurate results than fingerstick monitoring. This is likely due to the “lag time” inherent in alternate site testing – similar to that seen with CGM” (from Integrated Diabetes).

AST can be useful for people whose skin around your fingertips has become severely calloused or hardened. However, it should be noted that this sort of testing should only be used when blood sugar is stable (eg, before a meal or when fasting), and fingertip blood should be used if blood sugar may be changing rapidly (eg, after a meal or exercise).

Lancing devices may need to be adjusted to a deeper setting when using alternative sites. Some come with a cap to be added for AST.

Finger Stick versus Glucose Sensors

Finger stick meters check the level of glucose in the blood through our capillaries. Glucose sensors, such as continuous glucose monitors CGM and, Flash glucose monitors, Freestyle Libre, check glucose in interstitial fluid. Interstitial fluid is the fluid that surrounds the cells of the tissue below your skin, and usually, glucose moves from your blood vessels and capillaries first and then into your interstitial fluid.

Sensor and finger stick readings will rarely match and are expected to be different. A greater difference between Sensor and finger stick readings will be seen when your glucose is changing quickly, such as after eating or after taking a bolus of insulin. And most importantly, always confirm your BG value before correcting a high or treating a low glucose.