ETouch Glucometer Review and User's Guide
Blood Glucose Glucometer
My Etouch Glucometer Review – a lot of people who are monitoring their glucose level or blood sugar level are mostly using a handy self testing glucometer device that collects blood by pricking a finger using a lancet and dripping that blood to a test strip connected to the device. Then gives you a reading of your blood glucose level mg/dl or mmol/L. Most who are monitoring their glucose level everyday are weary of the finger-pricking method and looking for an innovative way to test and monitor one’s blood sugar level.
A new innovation has come to the market, E-Touch, a non-invasive, non-pricking glucometer that lets you test your blood sugar level by just pressing 4 sensing disc by both your thumb and forefinger. Sounds amazing and less painful? Yes! this innovation cuts out the need of pricking your finger everyday to collect blood to test and monitor your sugar level.
Using this device gives you so many advantages:
First, you do not have to suffer the pain and fear of pricking your finger and drawing out blood so you can test your blood sugar level. To those who are afraid of needles, this would come as a pleasant alternative.
Second, you do not have to continually buy expensive lancets and test strips to use for your monitoring. I know that some glucometer brands are more expensive than others but even if you are using a less expensive one, to think you are using and testing daily for the rest of your life. Imagine the savings you can have without buying these consumables.
Third, you have the convenience to test your blood sugar level anytime and anywhere. Using the device is easy and can give you the result quickly. You can perform the test even if you are on a moving vehicle, walking or stationary, standing or sitting.
But the question 100% of the finger-pricking glucometer users always ask is “Is it accurate even without drawing blood?”
To answer this question, I have tested the device myself. Yes, I went and test side by side a pricking glucometer and E-Touch, the non-invasive glucometer. I will be sharing my test with pictures as, giving you tips on “how to effectively” use E-Touch accounting my experiences, as well as explaining the science as explained by the study conducted on this device. The later may sound geeky and boring but I will try my best to explain it in simple words and terms as much as I could for everyone to understand.
If you are a finger-pricking glucometer user, please read on and hope that my personal experience with this E-Touch device can somehow help you with a decision if you want to switch and use E-Touch.
I. Prostprandial Blood Glucose Test (PBG)
PostPrandial Blood Glucose Test. – This is test is done 2 hours after meal and making sure that within that 2 hours you only consumed water for liquids. As you can see in the picture, I tested with a finger pricking glucometer and got a 138mg/dl result.
If you look at the result, you would say that my blood glucose level is elevated. But for a guide (see chart below). Base on the standard chart for blood glucose level, my result is still on the normal range. Although it is somewhat on the borderline of being a Pre-Diabetic.
As you can see on the chart, normal range after 2-3 hours after eating should be within 120-140 mg/dl. Impaired Glucose (Pre-Diabetic) range is within 140-160 mg/dl and Diabetic is 200 mg/dl and above.
II. Prostprandial Blood Glucose Test (PBG) ETouch
Immediately after I tested on a finger-pricking glucometer, I tested with E-Touch non-invasive glucometer. As you can see in the picture above the result is 140 mg/dl. There is a 2 mg/dl difference. Reading the instruction guide and the study, E-Touch accounts for a + 5 mg/dl margin compared to a finger-pricking glucometer. Using the E-Touch, I choose the Test Mode – Normal and selected PBG on the Body status. You can see Normal on the right side and PBG below the 140 result.
I tested normal because I’m still within the normal range even though I’m bordering Pre-Diabetic. To know how to do this test with E-Touch here is a tutorial video – How to Test with E-Touch – Normal
Next, not satisfied on the result both why my blood sugar level is higher than usual, after 2 minutes I tested again using E-Touch. This is also to see if I will get the same result. Well, this is to see the credibility of E-Touch and I was probably hoping my blood sugar level will go a bit lower.
Anyway, after testing again after 2 minutes here is the result.
The result is the same as the one I had previously with the finger-pricking glucometer, 138 mg/dl.
III. Testing on Pre-Diabetic Mode ETouch
I was a little bit curious on the test on the Pre-Diabetic mode using E-Touch as my previous result was on the borderline. So I tested again using E-Touch but this time on the Pre-Diabetic setting on the Test mode. And on the body status, I put it on Postprandial Blood Glucose (PBG). And to my surprise, here is the result
It was a difference of 7 mg/dl. I was curious as to why it has more than 5 mg/dl difference. I checked the manual, and this can be an explanation why the difference “…the parameters and algorithm for each Test Mode is different, to ensure that the results are accurate, choose the appropriate correct test mode and it is recommended that users take the tests at the time points of 8 hours of an empty stomach and 2 hours after meals…”
That means, you have to choose the appropriate Test Mode – Normal, Pre-diabetes, or Type 2 Diabetes and make sure that when you chose FBG or Fasting Blood Sugar, you have not taken any food within 8 hours before testing and/or when you choose PBG it is “2 hours after you have taken your last meal and within that 2 hours you only had water for liquids.
Although, it yielded a result within range, I would say that I have tested on the wrong Test Mode as I am still on the normal range but with same body status. One thing I would recommend for an effective use of E-Touch is to calibrate it based on the result of your Blood Chem, and calibrate it on the same day you tested and got the result. Then henceforth after calibrating test on your E-Touch would be more accurate.
You can do this also with a pricking glucometer, if blood chem is not readily available or something you cannot do. After you get the result from your pricking glucometer, you input the result when you calibrate the E-Touch. To know how to calibrate your E-Touch, we have a tutorial video – Calibrate e-Touch in PBG based on your lab result
IV. Pressing the 4 sensing disc
Pressing the 4 sensing disc correctly can also ensure the accuracy of the result when you test with E-Touch.
Using the thumb pulp and the forefinger pulp is the correct way of pressing the 4 sensing discs shown in the illustration above. If you use the tip of the thumb and forefinger, you may not get an accurate reading. I tried testing using the tip of my thumb and forefinger, and this is the result
You can see the result was way off from the 138 ~ 140 mg/dl with a difference of 20 mg/dl. Even though e-Touch came up with a result, it is not accurate based on our previous testing.
Also as a precaution, to wash your hands and make sure that your hands are dry and clean before using E-Touch.
V. Testing again with the correct parameters and procedure
Getting an accurate result using E-Touch non-invasive glucometer and effectively use the device, one should follow these steps:
- To ensure that the result is accurate, choose the correct Test Mode and make sure that users take the tests at the time points of “8 hours of an empty stomach” and “2 hours after meals“.
- Wash your hands and make sure that your fingers are dry and clean before using the device.
- Make sure that the pulp of the thumb and forefinger are the one touching the 4 sensing discs and not the tip of the fingers.
I followed all these steps and tested again with both the finger-pricking glucometer and E-Touch side by side. Here is the result
I tested 2 hours after the first side by side testing, and the result was 110 mg/dl for the pricking glucometer and 113 mg/dl result using E-Touch. There is a 3 mg/dl difference still within + 5mg/dl. My sugar level result is within the normal range and has gone down from the previous 138 mg/dl
Glucometer Testing for Fasting Blood Glucose
Testing again for Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG) or 8 hours on an empty stomach the next day. Testing side by side with the finger-pricking glucometer and E-Touch non-invasive glucometer. Here is the result
Looking at the picture above, the result from the pricking glucometer is 102 mg/dl and from E-Touch is 100 mg/dl with + 2 mg/dl. This is less than a minute apart, again within the + 5 mg/dl. More importantly, as I am on my late 40s and approaching my 50s, I am glad to know that my blood sugar level is on the Normal side.
Conclusion
Pros
In conclusion, the E-Touch non-invasive glucometer can be a good alternative for monitoring your blood glucose level everyday without the hassle and pain of pricking your finger to collect blood and test to know your Blood Glucose level. Also it will be cost effective and you will have savings in the long run using e-Touch compared to continually using lancets and test strips. Lastly, there is the convenience that you can test anywhere and anytime, as E-Touch is handy and can test no matter your position or situation and will get your blood glucose level results immediately.
Cons
Because we are use to testing our Blood Glucose level by drawing out blood, there is still the thinking or the mentality that the device is not accurate and cannot give accurate results because it does not use blood. But as shown with the side by side comparison, E-Touch can also give a trusted result.
Another con, I think is the calibrating of the device to increase the accuracy base from your Lab test result, which should be done at least once a month. Calibrating the E-Touch from your lab result once a month can assure a more accurate consistent result when you monitor your blood glucose daily or multiple times in a day. If you cannot have a once a month lab blood test, you can do it with your pricking glucometer and calibrate the E-Touch from that result. Again calibrating the E-Touch continuously, will give you a consistent accurate result when you monitor daily.
Bonus: The Science How ETouch Works.
To those who do not mind reading scientific and geeky words and terminology, here is an explanation how E-Touch works and collects data to come up with a blood glucose level result.
“…The basic principle of the non-invasive sugar testing machine (ETM-G01) is to use electronic impedance spectroscopy (electrical impedance spectroscopy). The electronic impedance spectroscopy is mainly to measure the intracellular fluid (Ri), the cell wall (Rm) and extracellular fluid (Re) are simulated into a circuit, when the glucose concentration changes, it also changes Plasma ions balance and increase the impedance of extracellular fluid (Re), so the change in Re is related to glucose concentration a linear relationship. We use radio waves of a specific frequency to hit our fingers, and then use gold-plated copper sheets to collect feedback Deterioration signal to quantify and calculate simulated sugar value…” (See illustration 1.1)
Illustration 1.1
The precision in FBG group are SD 5.53 mg/dL when blood glucose concentration is ＜100 mg/dl 、CV 8.42% and SD 9.87 mg/dL when blood glucose concentration is between 140 mg/dL and 100 mg/dL and CV 4.81% when blood glucose concentration is ≥140 mg/dl. There are 91.1% of accuracy within ±15% error range and mean bias is 5.57-9.06%. There are 100% in zone A for Clarke Grid evaluation.
FBG Group
Illustration 2.1
The precision in PBG group are SD 9.17 mg/dL when blood glucose concentration is ＜140 mg/dl and CV 6.32% when blood glucose concentration is ≥200 mg/dl. There are 93.3% of accuracy within ±15% error range and mean bias is 5.65-7.46%. There are 96.51% in zone A for Clarke Grid evaluation.
There is scientific published paper as below :
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6572653
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8976732
PBG Group
Illustration 2.2
