When you buy a blood pressure meter or blood glucose monitor from the Sharper Vision Store, you’re probably ready to use it right out of the box. But the reading on your new medical device may not be the same as the reading you would get at a doctor’s office. When buying medical equipment from any retailer, it’s important to bring it to your doctor so they can ensure the device gives accurate readings.
“Getting an incorrect reading from, say, a blood pressure meter can have pretty big consequences,” says Education and Vision Services Director Amy Wurf. “If you take your blood pressure every day and it reads higher than you actually have, that could lead to a doctor changing your medication, which can lead to complications.”
Even if you get a product from a reputable brand, each device has the chance of being incorrectly calibrated. For example, if you use a Talking Blood Pressure Meter or Talking Blood Glucose Monitor from the Sharper Vision Store, always take it to your doctor or diabetes educator so they can ensure they are accurate. If these devices are inaccurate, you should call the manufacturer and ask them to send you another device.
Scales, including the Talking Scale from the Sharper Vision Store, can also occasionally give inaccurate readings. To test your scale, weigh yourself right before you go in for a doctor’s appointment. If there is a significant difference between the weight measured on your scale and the weight measured at the doctor’s office, that could mean your scale is inaccurate. If the scale is off, you can either return it through the manufacturer or you can figure out how much the scale is off by and add or subtract the number of pounds whenever you weigh yourself.
If your blood pressure monitor is inaccurate, it could also be an issue with the cuff–the part of the device that wraps around your arm. A larger cuff is available for the Talking Blood Pressure Monitors in the Sharper Vision Store, and store staff can help you order a better fitting cuff. Still, it is important to bring the monitor to your doctor so they can make sure it is giving accurate readings.
To get your medical devices tested, call your clinic or hospital and ask if a doctor or a nurse would be able to help you determine the device’s accuracy. Often, nurses will be able to see you faster than doctors. Be sure to tell them what device you want to check, and they will tell you who is available to help.
