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FBS Reading Different For Each Hand
A DiabetesTeam Member asked a question 💭

Hello,
When I took my FBS this morning -- I got two different readings -- 140 in my left hand; 123 in my right.

I took it twice because the 140 sounded too high. 123 is more in line with what I've been getting.

Any ideas what is causing this? Could it be a meter malfunctioning? Thank you.

posted June 25, 2020
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A DiabetesTeam Member

"Industry Standard" is plus/minus 20%

So if your actual blood sugar was say 140 (7.8) then plus/minus 28 (1.6) would be considered "close enough" for a home monitor meter - which sound "way too far off" to me.

However, most meters now are accurate within 10% which is still a "fair bit of error" if you are like me and track all your numbers super close - I consider a change of say 0.5 mmol/l (9 points) from my average FBS to be something to try and figure out "why" I am so FAR from average/typical - but in reality that would be within the accuracy of the best meters on the market (a good FBS of 5.5/99 would have an error rate of 0.5/9 points).

I discussed this with the diabetes specialist. His advice was don't get fixated/obsessed with your numbers if they are "in range" even if they are a little above average.

posted June 25, 2020
A DiabetesTeam Member

I had to stop testing for a few days as my fingers were puffy and kinda swollen

posted July 18, 2020
A DiabetesTeam Member

Ive gotten different reading off same hand and finger within a minutes of each test. Got really tired of stabbing my fingers and just so happens my dr suggested a cgm. And i love it (fingers love it tooo)

posted July 15, 2020
A DiabetesTeam Member

I don't know the cause; but, I can get different readings on each finger of the same hand. Perfectly "normal". Our FBS is not completely accurate, it is just a guideline to show us where we may be a little high or a little low. A1C is far more accurate.

posted July 2, 2020
A DiabetesTeam Member

Stephen - my machine is about 2 years old

posted June 29, 2020

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