The Stelo Glucose Biosensor measures glucose in the interstitial fluid just beneath your skin, while a blood glucose meter (BGM) measures glucose in a drop of blood. Because of this, it’s normal for these values to differ. Since glucose moves first through the bloodstream and then into the interstitial fluid, CGM readings can lag behind blood glucose changes by up to 15 minutes.
Like all continuous glucose monitoring systems, the Stelo Glucose Biosensor has defined accuracy ranges within which its readings are considered reliable. It’s not useful to compare Stelo directly to other devices, as each has a different margin of error.
Other reasons you might see differences between your BGM and the Stelo Glucose Biosensor include:
- Hand cleanliness: Wash your hands with soap and water (not hand sanitizer), then dry them thoroughly before testing with your BGM. Many inaccurate BGM readings are caused by improper hand washing.
- First day of wear: During the first 24 hours after inserting a new sensor, differences between your BGM and CGM readings may be more noticeable. Stelo readings typically become more accurate after this initial period.
- Pressure on the biosensor: Physical pressure—such as lying on the sensor—can temporarily affect readings. Once the pressure is relieved, the numbers should align more closely with your BGM.
- Rapidly changing glucose levels: When your glucose is rising or falling quickly, it’s normal for CGM readings to differ from BGM values due to the delay in glucose reaching the interstitial fluid. The values should come closer together once your glucose levels stabilize.
- Test strip issues: Make sure your BGM test strips are not expired, are stored properly, and that you’re using a sufficient amount of blood for each test.
You can read more about Stelo accuracy here:
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