I've been using the OmniPod for a while, and have primarily used the PDM to test BG. However, this morning I decided to check more carefully and checked with both PDM and Freedom Lite meter (actually did 2 checks each from the same "stick"). I used the old strips for the PDM and the new strips for the meter. Both times my PDM readings were 100 (+/-) points higher than the meter. Obviously, I don't know which to believe.
I will appreciate feed-back. This has thrown me for a "loop" this morning.
I'd like to start by saying in the past years a number of questions have come up from many places about the accuracy of BG meters. Some of the questions getting up to the FDA level and other legal avenues. I've not heard any real outcome from these questions though.
I'd start with Insulet on the validity of your PDM, or the possibility you may have a bad one. In my testing so far (I've been on my Omnipod for about 1 day so far...) I've found my PDM to be about 10% to 20% lower than the other Freestyle meters I own. Which seems to be the norm from other people's posts here.
In your test, you mention "from the same stick" Did you actually use the same stick twice? If so, that would invalidate your reading right off. The test is a very tightly balanced equation of electrical resistance upon chemicals. Once a strip's been used, it's worthless. You'd be better off testing individual strips once only from the same bottle many times before drawing a conclusion.
Good luck with your findings.
Test with the control solution. The result should be 104 mg/dl.
This is a question that has plagued me for years. My PDM has always given me lower (about 10-20%) then any other meater, When I was concictently wearing a Dex I once was tesing on the PDM, reading my Dex, then testing via One Step system. Never had concistent results, so I decided to go to my Endo for some answers. She could only suggest that I get a test done in her lab, then do a test myself on the PDM and the Dex and just figure what the differences were approzimately and apply those differences each time I do the testing myself. On that day the lab test she did was the closest to the PDM (Freestyle), the PDM test was approzimately 5% higher, so that is the formula I use whenver I do a fingerstick.
And also, I agree with Helmut.
Test with the solution on all meters used.
Scott,
I think Tinkersmom said from the same stick (prick), not from the same strip. A strip won't let you use it twice, if I'm not mistaken.
Cheers,
Gil
Our PDM was consistently lower with the butterfly strips if we used the code 16. So I tested it using code 16, 17, 18 and 19 against my accu-check and code 19 gave us numbers much closer to the accu-check which we’d been using, with much success, before starting the omnipod. So now we use code 16 butterfly strips with code 19 setting in the PDM. Works great.
Yep, read that the second time. Thanks for the affirmation.
Very good info. I also have an Accu-check meter which I think is very close to reality, so I'll check them side by side too.
very interesting.
Here's what I just did.
Same finger, same blood drop.
Omnipod (code 16) - 67 (no hypo symptoms)
New iBG Star Meter - 100
Omnipod (code 19) - 87
For the record, I've used the Omnipod Meter since I went on the Omnipod 2+ years ago. I've heard the same though, that it typically runs on average 10-20% lower than other meters.
oops and I forgot to add : Dexcom CGMS - 81
Just did another test.
Omnipod (code 19) - 76
Omnipod (code 16) - 63
iBG Star - 92
Dexcom - 78
Yup. Just be careful - code 19 works great if you are in range. If you are high, code 19 will say you are super high. Like 200 on accu-check aviva = 290 on omnipod code 19 PDM. So if the number you get doesn’t make sense, double check it.
How does one acquire "code 19"? I can only get code 16 and have never seen another code since about a year ago. Pls advise.
When you put the strip into the PDM the default is 16 but you can hit the up or down arrow (when the 16 first apears on the screen) to change it.
Thanks for the post. I've also done experimentation and found that 17 worked best but it looks like 19 is working well for you in your case. I tended to discount my Dexcom results during the comparison since Dexcom itself relies on calibration from a meter anyway. I continue to find it disconcerting that the PDM meter could be causing people to have a false sense of security with their insulin regimen. Even with my setting at 17, several times a month I compare the PDB blood glucose results with a standalone meter to make sure things are on track.
Thank you, I did know how to change the code on the meter, but I thought one should only change to what the code read on the strip box, which I thought was ALWAYS 16, so what I was wondering was where/how does one get the "code 19" strips? Thank you for your response, and pls. do let me know!
Just change the code on the meter, don't worry about what the box says. All the boxes, to the best of my knowledge, now have 16 on them but you need to ignore this. Hope this helps.
I too have found that 17 matches better to both types of other meters I've got. Almost perfect match.
I have been on the OmniPod for about 3 weeks and have just learned that the OmniPod PDM UST200 CANNOT use the Freedom Lite strips but needs to use either FreeStyle Blood Glucose Test Strips or FreeStyle Blood Glucose Test Strips with ZipWik™ tabs - This might be what is causing the difference in reading people are getting. I just contacted my diabetic supply company to change from the lite to the non lite version. It will be interesting to see what the difference actually is.
I already use the freestyle with the zipwik and butterly emblem with code 17. The strips all come coded 16 in the cannisters.