Checking blood glucose levels is critical for diabetes management, and accuracy is essential. Accurate readings are required for insulin therapy, diet plans, and minimizing health risks.
There are several methods for measuring the quantity of glucose in your blood, the most common of which are blood glucose meter (BGM) and lab tests. But how much difference between a glucometer and a lab test actually is? Are they both correct? What role do they play in treatment?
Finding the answers can help you move forward with your diabetes management plan with confidence. But before moving forward, we must learn about glucometers and lab tests.
Understanding Glucometers And Lab Tests For Diabetes
A Glucometer test determines the amount of glucose in your blood. A typical glucometer test kit will include a lancet to prick your skin (usually on your finger), test strips, and a logbook to keep track of your levels.
How A Glucometer Works?
Insert a test strip into the meter and place a blood sample on the strip to perform a test. FDA-cleared meters are commonly used in hospitals and doctor’s offices and are also a safe and effective way for diabetics to check their levels on their own. Regular at-home testing allows you and your healthcare professional to monitor trends, fine-tune your treatment plan, and manage your diabetes more effectively.
This is important for lowering the risk of certain health conditions, such as heart problems, stroke, and high blood pressure.
How Different Lab Tests For Diabetes Work?
Blood glucose is measured using a variety of lab tests, such as random blood glucose, blood sugar (FBS), and hemoglobin A1c tests. To undertake these tests, a specialist will draw blood from a vein (usually in the forearm) and send it to a lab for analysis. The results may take several hours or days to appear. Diabetes diagnosis requires the use of laboratory tests.
If your glucometer test measurements are abnormal, you are experiencing new symptoms, your treatment plan is being assessed, or you are changing your treatment plan, your healthcare provider may order additional lab testing.
Glucose Lab Test
Lab glucose tests, like glucometer tests, monitor blood glucose in the instant and can identify short-term changes. However, the results could differ from your glucometer measurements due to a number of factors, including the following:
- The order of sample collection versus testing.
- Various pieces of equipment.
- Various methodologies (plasma vs. whole blood).
Regardless of these factors, your glucometer results typically correspond to lab test results.
A1c Tests
An A1c test, as opposed to a glucometer test, which reflects your blood sugar at the moment and can reveal sudden, short-term changes, reflects your average blood sugar over the previous two to three months (the life span of red blood cells). This long-term monitoring is an amazing method for assessing how well your diabetes management plan is working, but it looks at different parameters than your glucometer, making comparison difficult.
Assuring Precision
Glucometer tests that are consistently inaccurate are a serious concern. These tests are essential for day-to-day diabetes management and provide valuable information to your healthcare provider.
Without precise information, you will be unable to make well-informed choices about your treatment. When a glucometer is described as precise, it does not necessarily mean that it estimates the precise quantity of glucose in your blood every time you check it. No device can precisely measure the amount of glucose in your blood; even a small drop of blood includes massive amounts of glucose molecules. Repeated measurements may differ slightly from one another, just as they do when you take your temperature at home. Instead, accuracy is determined by how well the glucometer measurement matches the results of a “gold standard” instrument.
The FDA requires that 95% of all blood glucose values from the glucometer be within 15% of the value measured by the lab instrument, and 99% of all blood glucose values from the glucometer be within 20% of the value measured by the lab instrument. If the glucometer does not meet FDA standards, it cannot be considered accurate.
You are one step closer to ensuring accuracy if you use an FDA-approved device. However, several factors such as test strip management, the testing site, and the neatness of the testing site can all have an impact on the accuracy of your glucometer results. Here are a few simple precautions to take in order to obtain the most accurate results:
Before checking your levels, always wash thoroughly your hands with soap and water.
- If you choose to clean your finger with alcohol, make sure to let it dry.
- Before using your test strip, make sure it is not broken or expired, and that it has been properly stored.
- Use a suitable blood sample size. Blood samples should not be too big or too small.
- Consider your testing location. Blood from the finger may have a slightly higher sugar level than blood from the forearm.
- To obtain a blood sample, avoid squeezing the finger excessively.
- Check that your testing supplies are within the manufacturer’s temperature range.
- Use only FDA-approved devices.
Always discuss with your healthcare professional if you have any worries about the accuracy of your glucometer.
Accuracy Difference Between Glucometer And Lab Tests
Many diabetics discover that their glucometer test results are different from their lab results. This imbalance can be alarming, leaving you confused if you can rely on your glucometer to be accurate. However, by examining the differences between a blood glucose meter and a lab test, you can know why this can occur and what it means. Both glucometer and lab tests assess blood glucose levels but in different ways.
How Much Difference Between Glucometer And Lab Test: Conclusion
In conclusion, both a glucometer and a laboratory test are effective tools for measuring blood glucose levels. However, there are some differences between the two. Glucometers are portable, convenient, and provide quick results, making them ideal for monitoring blood glucose levels at home.
On the other hand, laboratory tests provide more accurate results and are used as a reference for diagnosing and monitoring diabetes. Although there may be some variability between the two, the difference is usually minimal and does not affect the overall management of diabetes. It is important to understand that both types of tests are useful in their own way and should be used together to monitor and manage diabetes effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Accurate Is Glucometer?
Results within 15% of the lab readings are considered accurate.
What Time Is Best To Check Blood Sugar?
If you take multiple daily injections, testing is generally suggested before meals and at bedtime. If you only use intermediate- or long-acting insulin, you may only need to test before breakfast and sometimes before dinner or at bedtime.
Which Finger Is Best For Glucometer?
The World Health Organization recommends using the middle or ring fingers for blood glucose tests (second and third fingers). Because the skin on your little finger is thin, you should avoid using it.
