Glucose Meter Problems

One of the most important parts of managing diabetes is monitoring blood-glucose levels. The glucose meter has come a long way over the years and now makes home-monitoring of blood glucose by the patient a convenient reality, though due to technology there are common problems and troubleshooting issues that arise with frequent use and can lead to inaccurate readings. Understanding how your glucose meter works and what can adversely affect the results it gives can help prevent problems.

Batteries

• The average glucose meter sees a lot of use, daily for most and every few hours for some, and the majority of models are battery-operated. Low batteries can lead to error messages (either battery-related or random), unreliable or erratic blood-glucose readings and (in the case of completely dead batteries) failure to turn on or operate at all.

Control Solution

• Control solutions are designed to be used periodically on the meter in place of blood to make sure it's working properly and giving accurate results. Control solutions can give false high or false low results if they are stored at extreme temperatures, used after the expiration date or contaminated with foreign materials via a cracked bottle or storage without the cap secured.

Test Strips

• Test strips are used to hold the blood and bring it in contact with the glucose meter. Test strips can interfere with the glucose meter's ability to render an accurate reading and trigger a false high or false low if they are exposed to extreme heat or cold, used after the expiration date, contaminated with foreign material, not fully inserted into the meter or if too little blood is applied.

False High

• Many factors can contribute to a meter reading a blood sample as high in glucose when it really isn't. Some of these include a contaminated or dirty blood sample, a contaminated or dirty glucose meter, expired or faulty test strips, a dehydrated or anemic patient, or using a blood sample site other than indicated by the physician, such as somewhere other than the finger tips.

False Low

• Glucose meters can have problems with accuracy and give false low results if expired or faulty test strips are used, the glucose meter itself is dirty or contaminated with old blood, the patient is in shock, the patient has over-squeezed the finger in an attempt to get blood flowing, the blood sample used was too small, the test strip wasn't inserted into the meter fully or if the patient has polycythemia.

Prevention/Solution

• Every glucose meter is different but they all should come with a manual for deciphering error codes and troubleshooting problems. Keep in close contact with your doctor (and diabetic coach, if you have one) and don't be afraid to ask if you have questions about how to operate your glucose meter or if you suspect it isn't working properly.