Question about new Bayer Contour Meter?

[EarlyBird]

For years I'd used the Bayer Glucometer Elite Meter to test my blood sugar.
Recently they have stopped making the test strips for it. Bummer
I received my new Bayer Contour meter this past week; When testing with it
the number comes up anywhere from 15 to 20 points less than the old
Glucometer meter. [I still have a few of the old test strips left.]

Are there any other users of the Bayer Contour Meter on the forum?
And, does anyone use a different meter other than Bayer's?

[Ted_Hutchinson]

Originally Posted by EarlyBird

Are there any other users of the Bayer Contour Meter on the forum?
And, does anyone use a different meter other than Bayer's?

I recently bought a Lifescan OneTouchEasy glucose meter and was rather shocked by a lot of the 1hr readings. I then got sent a FREE Bayer Contour and when I use both on the same blood spot the Bayer Contour reads lower. than the Lifescan One Touch. The Bayer numbers appear to be nearer to the level the local hospital path lab found were my Ha1c and fasting oral glucose. tolerance test. I suspect, but cannot prove, that the Bayer is more accurate than the Lifescan but that may just be wishful thinking.

[Arrowwind09]

make sure your meter is programed right, do your checks with the solution they provide. Do not use unapproved test strips.

The new meters are suppose to be getting better, but who knows with those guys.

Kinda nice to know your readings are lower though, no?

[EarlyBird]

No Arrow, not if it's an incorrect/untrue reading I go by my glucose reading
to know how much insulin to take. Of course I'm using the correct test strips.
The only positives I can see is that the Contour needs a smaller amt of blood.
And it is faster. I've double tested 4 or 5 different times; it's always lower.

Thanks Ted, for your imput. I see my Dr on the 10th for my 3 mo Ha1C so
will discuss this with her. I've not heard of the other meter you mention.

The only thing I can figure to do is to add 10 or 12 points to any reading the Contour gives me. I just don't like using something I can't trust!

[EarlyBird]

Ted, do you have a link to the LifeScan One Touch Easy? I want to check
something out. Thanks!

[Julie]

I am fighting back pre-diabetes (I had gestational diabetes) and when I got a 111 fasting lab result I bought a Contour to replace an old Freestyle. Contour was reading consistently in the 80s in morning and I've never lab tested below mid-ninety. So I bought a cheap WalMart Relion. It is always high. I am getting readings from the two with up to a 30 spread during the day. My latest fasting lab was 96. I tested before I left the building. The Contour was 86 and the Relion was 111. I have to use both to get an average that I feel is more accurate. Using only the Contour and it's always low reading would leave me thinking I'm completely normal and I'm not if I eat too many carbs. I called Freestyle and they sent me a meter. It is giving me a middle reading so I'm assuming it is the most correct. I'm going to save myself a lot of blood and only use the Freestyle from now on. Pre-dinner reading from same finger today: Relion 128, Contour 86, Freestyle 113.

[JanH]

I think the accuracy of glucose meters is a serious problem that needs to be addressed! When I was first diagnosed with diabetes, I had four meters that I tested with at the same time; there was as much as 75 points difference in the four readings!

[EarlyBird]

I've gotten used to the Bayer Contour meter & just add 8 points to it for my readings.
If it says 101 I add 8 to know it's really 109.
It's all in getting used to your meter whichever one you use.

[villandra]

I was just issued a Contour meter through the county medical assistance program. That thing reads LOW. It consistently reads 10 points lower than my one touch meter. My one touch meter most often matches a blood test done at the same time. My blood sugar has NEVER been 78 unless I had low blood sugar, and someone with worse problems than I have could wrongly treat hypoglycemia if they got that reading! I have to maintain a goal of bg under 100, so I can't learn my bg is 90 if it is really 110.

If this make of meter consistently does this, it is useless.

Dora

[villandra]

The One Touch meter's readings match laboratory blood tests done at the same time. My medical coverage made me switch to Contour; it reads 10 to 15 points low. I consulted the nurse at my clinic and exchanged the meter for another one; it does the same thing worse. I tried a second bottle of strips with a different lot number and it was only slightly better.

All over the web I'm reading reports that the Contour meter reads low.

Some meters read low because they're calibrated for whole blood, but the Contour meter should not do this as it is calibrated for plasma.

I am wondering where one can complain if an entire brand of meters is bad?

We shouldn't have to put up with this. The meter companies claim their meters can be 20% off, but they set that standard. Noone else did. ADA wants it to be 10%. My goal is 100, and lately it's been 90. If it's over 100 I don't need it reading 90. Alot of people would treat for hypoglycemia if they got the 78 reading I often get with the Contour. It seems like the FDA ought to take action.

Dora

Yours,
Dora Smith