Daily Diabetes Log (Page 6 of 8) in pdf

should be cleaned. If your user manual says you can clean your monitor, use a soft cloth that is dampened with soap and water

to prevent damage to sensitive parts. Do not use alcohol (unless recommended by the manufacturer), cleaners with ammonia,

glass cleaners or abrasive cleaners. Make sure to follow the instructions for cleaning your monitor noted in the user manual.

Perform Quality Control Checks

You need to perform regular quality control checks on your blood glucose monitor based on the manufacturer's instructions. This

is to make sure your glucose readings are accurate and reliable. A number of things can affect the accuracy of your readings,

such as if the monitor was dropped, the electrical components on the monitor have worn out or the test strips have been

damaged by heat or humidity. Changes in your testing technique can also affect your glucose readings. In general, there are two

types of quality control checks to test the operation of your monitor.

Test quality control solutions. This method checks the accuracy of your monitor and test strips, and may also indicate if you

are using your system properly. When testing your monitor with a quality control solution, follow the instructions provided with the

solution. The instructions will direct you to place a certain amount of solution on a test strip and then run it through your monitor

just as if you were using your blood to check your glucose. Because test quality control solutions are associated with glucose

values, the monitor will provide you with a reading of the amount of glucose in the control solution sample. Compare this number

to the number noted on the test quality control solution labeling. If the numbers match, your system (monitor and test strips) is

working properly. If the numbers do not match, the system may not be working properly and you will need to contact the

manufacturer for further instruction.

Electronic controls. This method only checks if the monitor is operating properly. When testing your monitor with an electronic

control, you place a cartridge (special control test strip) in the monitor and a signal will be displayed to indicate if the meter is

working properly. If the meter is not working properly, you will need to contact the manufacturer for further instruction.

Test quality control solutions and electronic controls may be included with your monitor. If not, you should be able to obtain from

the manufacturer of the monitor or from a pharmacy.

You need to also take your monitor to your diabetes health care provider so he or she can watch you test your glucose to make

sure your technique is correct. Your health care provider will also take a sample of your blood to obtain a lab value of your blood

glucose level in order to compare the blood glucose monitor results with the lab test results. If the results are comparable (within

15 percent), then you and your health care provider will know the monitor is working properly and your technique is correct. If the

results are not comparable, your monitor may not be working properly or other factors may be affecting the performance of your

monitor. Discuss this with your health care provider and contact the manufacturer if needed.

Factors That May Affect Your Blood Glucose Monitor

If your test results are inaccurate, you should consider other factors that may be affecting your monitoring system and the

results.

Hematocrit. This is the amount of red blood cells in the blood. If your hematocrit is high, your blood glucose level may test lower

than people with normal hematocrit. If your hematocrit is low, your blood glucose level may test higher than people with normal

hematocrit. If your hematocrit is abnormal, such as with anemia and sickle cell anemia, discuss its possible effect on your

glucose readings with your diabetes health care provider. If you do not know what your hematocrit value is, discuss this with

your doctor.

Other substances. There are other substances, such as uric acid (a natural substance found in the body that may be higher

than normal in people with diabetes), glutathione (an anti-oxidant known as GSH) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) that may affect

your blood glucose readings. Check the package insert or user manual to see what substances may affect your monitoring

system and the accuracy of its testing. Talk with your diabetes health care provider about these substances and the possibility of

them interfering with your test results.

Temperature, humidity and altitude. These may also affect the accuracy of your results. Read the information with your

monitor and test strips to see if temperature, humidity or altitude may affect their performance. Make sure to follow the

instructions for properly storing and handling your monitor and test strips.

Generic test strips. Generic or third-party glucose reagent strips are test strips developed as less expensive alternatives to the

test strips developed by manufacturers of the monitors. These generic test strips are made specifically for the monitors listed on

the package; however, they may look similar to strips used for other monitors. When buying these generic or third-party test

strips, make sure to buy the ones that are compatible with your monitor.

Manufacturers may change their monitors and test strips and sometimes the makers of the generic test strips are not informed of

these changes. This can result in the generic test strips not being compatible with your monitor even though their packaging

states they are. The differences between test strips may include the amount, type or concentration of the chemicals (reagents)

on the strip, or the size and shape of the strip. Monitors are sensitive to these differences and may not work properly if they are

not used with the correct test strips. Contact the manufacturer of your blood glucose monitor if you are not sure whether a test

strip will work with your monitor.

Daily Diabetes Log Page 6

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