How accurate is Precision Xtra Ketone meter

[Nancy in VA]

I just did a 1 hour check after dosing Emma high for her 1.7 Ketone reading. I expected her to be high but actually wasn't awful (350 which isn't unusual) but her Ketones registered as .2 (trace to none) whereas her reading this AM was 1.7. That seems might quick to clear them out (she did have her basal dripping all along obviously but her bolus was 1 hour ago).

I know the +/- on a meter but I wonder about the Precision Xtra - could the 1.7 have been off?

[Kaylee's Mommy]

from my experience the precison xtra is pretty accurate.. if you have ketones because of a lack of insulin (versus sick or infection) I think they are easier to clear.. Kaylee had high ketones (which is what the 1.7 is.. she was 1.5) and just .10 of a unit and some food brought them down quickly to .7.. I have found K to be high (in the 300s ) with NO ketones.. (under .5 is 'normal'...) its the prolonged high that she starts producing ketones.. we do check for ketones for anything over 250..but rarely see them unless she's not getting any insulin:)

I'm not positive, but I think the insulin works on the ketones first, before the blood sugar.. could be wrong on that though..

[Nancy in VA]

Thanks for the response. She had moderate Ketones last night which is why I did her site change early ( 2 1/2 days instead of 3 days) so I was shocked at a 58 with 1.7 Ketones this morning!! Glad to hear that sometimes a little insulin works quickly. I just hope it doesn't drop her since we over dosed by 20% to cover the ketones (and pumped her with juice to get her up first)

[Abby-Dabby-Doo]

My opinion on that is ... we are dealing with a machine, electronic devices do mess up. But ...Abby's gotten rid of ketones pretty quickly also- by testing with blood and urine strips. So I guess I'm really not answering your question, it's kind of double sided. I guess what I'm saying is, we've gotten rid of them quickly, but electronic devices do mess up. :o

[Nancy in VA]

OK, well since I'm hearing that you both have cleared quickly I'm feeling better. My CDE thought several hours so I was just shocked at how quickly they cleared.

[MissouriMom]

I've only been using the Precision Xtra a few weeks. I have experienced the same things. Just two days ago he was over 300 with 1.7, and he was down to .5 with a correction bolus. When I discussed with the doc, they said that was normal.

[ScottB]

I asked our Endo about the Precision Xtra meter because we've considered using it for checking ketones. She claimed that the reports she has seen about the meter is that it's not very accurate in regards to checking BG readings but couldn't say good or bad as far as checking ketones.

[Kaylee's Mommy]

remember too that the meter is checking blood and the urine is ketosix are behind.. by a couple of hours, I believe.. I think you see a difference when checking with the precision xtra, they clearup faster than you are seeing with the unine ketosix because it lags.. so its going to seem like it takes longer...

[Abby-Dabby-Doo]

remember too that the meter is checking blood and the urine is ketosix are behind.. by a couple of hours, I believe.. I think you see a difference when checking with the precision xtra, they clearup faster than you are seeing with the unine ketosix because it lags.. so its going to seem like it takes longer...

Agreed!
Even before we got the precision meter, we used urine sticks and Abby would go from large to trace in 30 minutes. (After 400 gallons of water- on MDI). I've seen it work both ways... the precision and urine dunker's.

[Nancy in VA]

We aren't using Urine strips - just too hard for a 2 year old in diapers, so I'm depending solely on the blood ketone strips

[Abby-Dabby-Doo]

I'm sorry Nancy, I forgot about the diapers!
I would take the word of the meter, if in doubt use the cotton balls, but like Kim said, know that the urine reading is at least an hour behind.

[Kaylee's Mommy]

We aren't using Urine strips - just too hard for a 2 year old in diapers, so I'm depending solely on the blood ketone strips

Kaylee is old enough to use the unrine ketosix, but we find the meter just so much easier, and I like seeing a number and not a color on a strip.. kwim? my DH, who at first hated the pump because it was a machine that could malfuntion and basically is keep kaylee alive.. love the precision xtra.. we have had issues with it, but it was replace quickly, like all machines things can happen.. just the other day Kaylee was high for hours.. no matter what we did she was high.. we checked ketones at every BG check and she was .2 the entire time.. he checked himself, .2.. so he though something might be wrong with it.. nothing was wrong with it.. just everyone was reading at .2 LOL..

Ketones are going to be a lot more stubborn if she's sick, or has some sort of infection.. and I think the longer she is high the harder it would be to get rid of the ketones..

when Kaylee had them the other day I called her endo while iwas changin her site.. at the beginning of her site change they were 1.2 by the end, and by the time I was taken off hold they were 1.5, only about 1/2hr inbetween, so they were headed up fast (we had a site problem..) and the nurse had said she was hoping they'd go down just as fast at the went up.. I don't know if it really happens that way..but she was hoping since they developed so easy they'd dissappear just as easy.. and they did..

I know I'm writing a book LOL.. but what I'm trying to say, is what you experienced I think is totally normal LOL.. :cwds:

[Mama Belle]

I agree about ketones clearing quickly especially when there is an insulin delivery issue. Last time Sam wasn't getting insulin her ketones spiked to 1.8 and within an hour of the correction were .7. Not as much of a drop as you saw, but still pretty substantial. Another hour and she was .2. So I think you are seeing what most people see with ketones. For us, it is a whole different story with an illness, ketones can hang on for hours and hours, but that's because we're dealing with insulin resistance,which isn't easily remedied.

[KeltonsMom]

We have the Precision Xtra meter, however, our insurance will not cover the costs for the ketone test strips :mad: We have TriCare Prime (military insurance) and it will cover everything else but the strips.