I have not tried that, because my test strips are rather expensive. My question is why? What is the point of doing that.

My strips are free, so I guess it doesn't matter. Why do I do that? hmm, well, I don't trust the 1 sample anymore.

I didn't want to have either a false hope that things are good and at the same time, I didn't want to feel sad that it's higher than I expected. lol, but now I'm feeling more comfortable.

Get the Doc to send you to the Lab and get an A1C done, that is a sure way of knowing where you are.

you can buy a
home A1C unit for two
uses at any pharmacy in town

What brand meter do you use? I am under the impression that any readings from any meter are not guaranteed to be 100% accurate - more like a general idea of where you are. I am new to this (been diagnosed about a month ago) and limited income so I test mostly once a day, always AM per dr.'s orders. My readings are not always consistent. Sometimes I figure it is what I ate the day before that is showing a higher number the next day, and other days I am up or down a few numbers and there does not seem to be a reason. Maybe you need to try another meter?

home meters are not guaranteed 100% accurate with the hospital tests, etc. it is used to give you an idea of how you are doing, how food is reacting etc. Testing 3 or more times at once is futile, even a non diabetic will get different readings, blood is constantly moving thru your body and you will just become frustrated plus a waste of supplies, free or not.

Bruticus - I agree with the others, it is pointless taking so many tests. I would not just stop the metformin, speak with your doctor before taking a step like that. Also you have to consider the damage to your fingers - it can get so bad you lose sensation due to all the pricking. I hope you are at least changing the lancet every single time you test.

My things are free too, but I don't waste them. I think 2 should be enough to get a reading. The readings can change as you saw when you took 10. You are also pricking your finger unnecessarily.

first off, it was 1 prick and lots of blood (a small pool to be exact)

anyway, I tried 5 samples this evening after dinner. I got 98, 109, 101 and a whopping 168. :]

wow, I take it that the 168 is not correct. You guys do know that I'm using the same pool of blood right?

Can someone just try 3 and let me know? (p.s. my meter is one-touch)

Iv tried the same thing all the numbers are generally pretty close. Sometimes you get variation in strips. Woke up one morning with a185 reading. Retested 5 min later 85 which is usually what I rest at 80-100. BS changes all the time I only test in the morning anyway. Peace

I still ask....what's your point.

You trying to prove your meter is wrong? Then change meters, I guess I don't understand why you are doing this.

Bruticus, you need to relax and quit doing this, you will just drive yourself up the wall. you will not get the same reading every time, even if you test on the arm and then the finger, you will still get different readings. it is just the way it is.

if you feel you don't need the meds talk to your doctor

It doesn't matter that you are using the same hole (I assume that is what you mean) - your heart is constantly pumping blood throughout your body so it will not be the same blood you test each time - by the time you have tested once and waited for a result, blood may have been pumped all the way around your body and back to your heart again. The blood does not stop at your finger tip and wait for you to test just because you have punched a hole into it.

You can't get scientific accuracy with home meters. You can just do your best - wash your hands before testing and ensure your meter is calibrated and your strips are not expired. Beyond that you just need to think about likelihoods if you get an anomalous result - is there a reason for it? Why might you be high/lower than usual? But like Mzizgayle says you can't let yourself become obsessed by it, sometimes you just can't work it out and have to let it go for the sake of your sanity. We still have to live our lives despite the diabetes, things won't always go to plan and we just have to live with that.

as it is said. do not allow diabetes to rent your mind for free (if it can't pay rent then let it go and do the best you can to control)

I read your question of multiple glucose tests from a pool of blood. The paperwork included with my Bayer brand Breeze 2 tester has a question printed on it of:

What if my test results are questionable or inconsistent?
1. Be sure the drop of sample completely fills the test strip.
2. Do not reuse a test strip if it does not fill properly the first time.
3. Test within one minute after you stick your finger.
4. Confirm that the test strip is within the expiration date.
5. Do not use torn or damaged test strips.
6. Check your meter and test strip performance.

So you need to test within one minute and I know that you cannot test ten times withing that minute. Your meter, nor you can run a test every six seconds. I asked my pharmacist about this a few years ago and he told me that I needed to be consistent with my tests. That I should get my meter and test strip ready, prick my finger and test it right then and not to do it that way and the next time prick my finger and then get the meter and test strip ready because the time difference would cause different readings. He said when the blood is exposed to the air the oxygen content starts changing and other properties of the blood change. So the longer the blood is exposed to the air, the more the blood and the readings will change.