Older meter vs newer meter

My original Bayer Contour Ascencia tested in 15 seconds and was always higher when I tested my blood sugar with my three newer ones that tested in 5 seconds. I suggest taking your meters to your next doctor's appointment when you have lab work done and testing yourself when they take your blood. Then, when you get their lab results, compare theirs to what your meters say. Keep in mind that meters can vary around 10% in accuracy every time you test. At best, our home meters can only give us a ballpark figure. I would not stress over this at all. You can always call the Bayer toll-free number and ask them.

I don't think lancets should have an expiration date. As long as they fit in the apparatus well, you can use them.

I think you're needlessly worrying about your readings on the two meters. For your own purpose, you can just average the two readings from the different meters. Talk to Bayer to ease your concerns if you're really bothered by the differences.

I also had an unproductive call to Bayer some years ago and I finally just said, "Thanks". I never did get my question answered. Very frustrating. I think the guy on the phone was in India. My feeling is that the phone people just are taught to respond from their info sheets and cannot think for themselves. He just repeated himself when I asked questions.

My last call was a couple of months ago and I asked how I could delete all my readings from the meter because I wanted to donate two of them to charity or some place that could use them. I have FOUR Bayer Contour meters! An old one (15 seconds) and three newer ones and they all use the same test strips. I didn't want my old readings to remain in the meters I would be donating. Instead of understanding why I was asking this, the guy said 'Oh, you need those readings to show the doctor." Well, I explained NO I was not keeping the meters - on and on and on in a circle I went with him. Then he wanted the serial number of the meter I was having trouble with. I wasn't having trouble with a meter!! (I was having trouble with the man on the phone!! lol) So I just hung up on him. ugh.

I don't use any of the Bayer meters anymore. I got an Accu-Chek Aviva and have been using that but I didn't bring it to my last appointment to compare its reading to the lab's. And NOW I just got a letter from our insurance that they are switching to One Touch and they will be sending a new one soon. As of the new year, our insurance will not cover Aviva supplies. So, I'm going to order boxes of Aviva strips until December and then will use the Aviva and One Touch both until I run out of Aviva.

Since my blood sugar is controlled and has never been critical, I don't worry about the small deviations in the readings between the meters. Meters are allowed to be inaccurate to 10% of the correct reading so that give a lot of leeway. This is why I don't get upset with different readings.

It might be true that readings from the finger are a little different from readings from the arm.

If I were you, I would not get anxious over these differences. If you're eating a good and healthy and balanced diet with fresh vegetables (especially), some protein (meat, fish, chicken) and some fruit and dairy and not depending on food that comes prepared from a box, and you're seeing your doctor regularly, then you shouldn't worry too much.

I don't know if it's better or not. It's been fine for us though. If I don't want the One Touch, I would have to pay full price for my Accu-Chek Aviva supplies as of January 1 - which I am not going to do. I don't care if they want to change it to the One Touch. They're both very good meters. I suppose the company that makes One Touch offered the insurance company a better deal.

I empathize with you if you're having problems with a Help Desk. It's really frustrating.

I would bring both meters with you the next time you are at your doctor's office to get your blood sugar measured. Take readings from both meters just before your doctor draws your blood, and maybe right after the drawing of blood also.

When you get your blood sugar results from the laboratory test see which meter is closest to that result.

Thank you.

Even though the 15 minute meter is higher than the 5 minutes meter, the two meters are usually always within range 120-135/140 after 90 minutes after a meal and lower 120 minutes after a meal (and lower after that if I take another reading). Fasting always in the 80s/90s. All readings have been about the same for many years.

As a pre-diabetic I think that is pretty goood after so many, many years of the same readings.

Someone said they would love to have my readings.

P.S. Do you still use your older Bayer Contour meter (with higher reading)?

Do any of them agree with doctor's reading? As I said, someone told me that doctors and yours would always be different because your blood is taken from finger and doctor's is taken from middle of arm.