What is you'r favorite blood glucose monitor?

[Bolman]

I have had multiple meters and my all time favorite is the One Touch Ultra. Second is the Accu-check Active.


What is your favorite, and why?

I like the One Touch Ultra, b/c of the 5 seconds it takes to get the test result and I love the size of it. The case was also convienant to put drivers lisense or anything else in the little pocket, it came in handy on my honeymoon to carry my money in.

The Accu-check I like also because of the speed, I just wish it was a bit shorter.

[Belinda]

The one touch ultra b/c 1. the little amount of blood
2. the fact that I have three of them
3. I can check my B/G without looking/dark etc......
4. It is small and easy to transport whereever.

I have tried many different ones and this is by far my favorite

[Bolman]

can check my B/G without looking/dark etc......

Sorry, but what do you mean? Are you talking about the Ultra plus the one that lights up? It has the charts too, that looks so neat!

[lgvincent]

I really like the Accu-Check Complete meter and have been using it since 1999. It has a 1,000 memory capacity and can store numerous things such as insulin dose and times of an insulin reaction. It also has a back light which is helpful for my poor vision, although it eats batteries pretty quickly.
I've just purchased a One Touch UltraSmart but haven't had a chance to use it yet. I like the back light, the way information is displayed on the meter, the types of information that can be stored, and the 3,000 memory capacity. I'm surprised at how small it is.
I'd like to get the Freestyle Tracker but it's just too darn expensive for me right now. Maybe some day, although probably not.

[Bolman]

The complete looks like a great meter. I wish health insurance companies would let us choose which meter we like.

[lgvincent]

I've found it to be very helpful in avoiding missing an injection or taking too many injections although I did forget to make the entry a few weeks ago and did that very thing. I think the UltraSmart may be the meter you were asking about a moment ago because it has the back light you mentioned and is supposed to give results in about 5 seconds.
I wish insurance companies would give greater freedom of choice too but they seem to put such strict limitations on the amount they'll pay which does limit what can be bought. I got the UltraSmart on e-bay recently and including shipping it only cost $30.99 rather than the $98.00 plus price I've seen in stores. I'm hoping to be able to send in an old meter for the rebate offered and reduce the amount I paid even futher but since I didn't get a receipt I probably won't be able to. However, if you're interested in that meter, they include a coupon good for a $20.00 refund and a rebate of $30.00 on a meter if you send it to them so it will cut the price down around $50.00 if you should decide to purchase one.
One the down side, the Complete meter includes free software and cable with the meter where you have to purchase that material for about $68.00 from One Touch. You can download the software for free but what do you do about the cable to connect to the computer? I'm hoping the cable I've got for the Complete meter will work but I haven't tried it yet and probably won't out of fear I may damage it. On the positive side, I think it uses the same strips as the Ultra meter so if you should get one you should be able to use any strips you already have with it.

[lgvincent]

Several members like the Therasense Freestyle meter and I know they recently put out a new meter which has a light in the slot where the strip is put into the meter for easier use when in poor lighting conditions and is also VERY small and I think it's called the Freestyle Flash. It looks like an interesting meter too.

[am1977]

I currently have the One Touch ultra, but I am not as pleased w/ it as some of you are. I find that it does give error messages more than I would like , especially if you don't get enough blood. I had the hardest time with it when I first was dx'ed. By the time I got enough blood, the meter had timed out...so that wasted the test strip. I went through so many of them at first :( I also can't use alternate site testing, b/c I cant' get enough blood from my arm.

I would like to try the Freestyle Flash (is that what it's called?). I like that it's so small and I think it requires even less blood. Maybe I'll get it eventually.

[Shalyndria]

Freestyle all the way!!

Shy

[Belinda]

One touch Ultra Smart is the one I will ask my Dr. for the next time I go in March. I would like to know.....do any of you get your meters from your Doctors at no cost? If not then I am very fortunate that I haven't paid for a new meter in years (7 plus). If he doesn't have one of the smart ones I hope when he gets one he will put my name on it and save it for me...he has done that too. Speaking about how great I think he is...when he gives you new meds to try he usually gives you at least 3 months of samples so that the next time I see him he will know if they work or not.....my problem is all the different meds for BP. Some are causing me to be dizzy when I stand, others just don't work well or too well.

[Sadie252]

I have only used the One Touch Ultra. Since I am a newbie I was lost on how to use it. I kept trying to put the blood on top of the strip. I wasted at least 20 strips before I discovered by accident how to use it. I did read the directions first , but for some reason it didn't sink in. I felt so stupid after I finally got it. I have watched my mom use hers and thought mine would work the same way.

[Belinda]

No they all work in a different way and it takes mistakes to make things work right. We are not perfect.

[zookeeper671]

FreeStyle Flash for me. Smallest meter available (teeny tiny), backlight, also lighted test strip port, smallest amount of blood needed (3/10th microliter) like the larger FreeStyle, 7-sec test time, free data cable and software, 4 optional alarms with 3 sound settings, and a memory of 250 readings. It's pretty cool.

I've used the One Touch Ultra and liked it a bunch... but it didn't light up, required more blood, the strips cost more than FreeStyle strips, was bigger, and didn't have the optional alarms which I find of use since I'm totally forgetful.

I kind of feel that meters are like shoes. Some people love Birkenstocks, some people wouldn't be caught dead wearing them. lol

Angie

[statdeac]

I'm with Angie...Freestyle Flash is the best meter for me! Though, I have always gotten meters free through the samples the reps leave for my endo, I actually BOUGHT this one on the website before it arrived in stores or offices...and I haven't been disappointed. It was about $35 after the rebate, though I think you can get one free now with the purchase of 50 test strips.

[HeatherP]

I've only had 4 meters in twelve years.

My all-time fav was my Glucometer (ascencia now) Elite XL. It beeped at when if turned on, beeped when ready for blood, and beeped when it displayed the reading.

I currently have a Freestyle. It's fast, and as of last March, according to my CDE was the most accurate on the market. It's okay, but I don't like the shape or the way it's weighted.

[zookeeper671]

If you're bored with the look of your One Touch Ultra or FreeStyle meter, you can get a goofy faceplate for it. I'm really into decorating lately (been watching a little too much HGTV), so all of a sudden everything needs a new look. Since I have a FreeStyle Flash, it appears to have been spared from being color coordinated.

FreeStyle Meter Skins (http://www.fifty50pharmacy.com/freestylemeterskins.html)

One Touch Ultra Skins (http://www.fifty50pharmacy.com/ultrameterskins.html)

(to purchase) (http://www.fifty50pharmacy.com/index.mvc?c=kidscorner)

Angie

[Bolman]

Angie, that is so grat that posted that. Espically for kids, what a great find!

[fishy]

I have two AccuChek Compacts which are great becuase they have the 17 test strip drum thing but suck because the build quality is highly dubious (both mine have a dodgy on/off button that often takes a bit of repeated pressing to work) and becuase the virtually pain free finger pricker is annoyingly painful and requires about a gallon of blood.

I have ordered the new Freestyle Flash from the US website linked in the other thread (its not available in the UK yet AFAICT).

[Chasesmommy]

I have the one touch ultrasmart. I just got it about a month ago from my dr, and I love it.

[kemist]

Ditched my Elite Meter (which I used for the last 10 years or so) for the new Freestyle flash.... I bought two of them, and its the best meter in my opinion.

kemist

[rzrbks]

No skins for my InDuo:mad:

Now I can't be part of the " :cool:Group"

[Belinda]

I have stickers in my desk you could use!
They say GREAT, Good Job and Terrific they are yours if you need any.

[rzrbks]

Belinda

I have stickers in my desk you could use!
They say GREAT, Good Job and Terrific they are yours if you need any.

I really do appreciate the offer but what I have in mind is something psychedelic or Funka-delic.

Right On.! Can you dig it? You bet your Bippy! Power to the People! Look that up in your Funk and Wagnails!

That kind of thing.:D

[Andrea]

I use an ultra. I dream of a freestyle flash. Hopefully within the next 8 months or so i will have a CozMonitor (freestyle to clip to the back of my Cozmo pump.

Andrea

[Belinda]

Originally posted by rzrbks
I really do appreciate the offer but what I have in mind is something psychedelic or Funka-delic.

Right On.! Can you dig it? You bet your Bippy! Power to the People! Look that up in your Funk and Wagnails!

That kind of thing.:D

I will see what I can come up with. I am sure there are some in one of the three schools/:D

[Shalyndria]

rzr,
You know, there's a reason kids don't use most of those phrases anymore....LMAO! Nowadays your sticker's are gonna say "Wicked turn on the half-pipe r-dog" and something about a "forshizzle on my hizzle"?! :cool:

Shy:whistling

[tkhan01]

I have used One touch Ultra, Accu check but the FREE STYLE is
the BEST to me. It is almost painless and very accurate, not to mention extremely fast. Been using it for more than 2 yrs now.

[dpav]

I have had major issues with greater accuracy with meters. I use and stay with whole blood meters due to the plasma based meters having many inaccurate readings compared to the whole blood meters. I have 6 meters. 2 whole blood now and 4 plasma, including The ultra smart. I was hopeful with this one. I had a test reading of 203, then 154, then I did a test with my Profile and had the accurate reading of 143. I shot up accidentally with the reading from the first Ultra smart reading and took way too much insulin. I now use both meters and find the Ultra smart always 40 to 60 mg/dsl higher than my Profile whole blood meter. I have taken, multiple reading with the profile and gotten mixed readings but they have only measure 2 to 4 points different each time. I can't afford to have the convenience of speed with plasma just to get inaccurate continually readings from plasma meters. Is there actually an accurate or at least a steady reading plasma meter out there that can be trusted? Plasma is always going to read higher than whole blood. But if the plasma meter can stay consistent, I can adjust to the new readings. Any ideas? or has anyone else checked their readings as closely as I have. I do 12 tests per day. My A1C's stay from 5.9 to 6.0 for the past 2.5 years. Any advice will be appreciated in the line of accurate meters and your personal experience.
Thanks
Don

[Teresa]

I have an Accu-Chek - Active machine... i really like it...

[lgvincent]

I hate to hear that dpav. I bought an UltraSmart meter hoping it would give me a chance for more accurate readings but now I'm not so sure. I sort of wish I had gotten the Freestyle Flash instead.

[dpav]

I really do not wish to scare off anyone from their choice of meters. But the biggest thing I have found, SO FAR, is all of the Plasma meters I have owned have been 25 to 40 mg/dsl higher than all of the whole blood meters I have owned. If the Plasma meters would stay the same and be consistent, I could adjust. But I have gotten 4 new plasma meters and every one of them has all had regular inconsistent readings. This is what scares me away from the plasma meters. The Profile is still made and supported by lifescan. It does take 45 seconds for the reading. But the readings have always been consistent. Even my old Accucheck Whole blood meter and my old Glucometer have all stayed consistent. But they have all been whole blood.
I have the Ultra Onetouch, The Ultra Smart , the Precision Extra, , They all have irregular readings. Either I have some extremely weird method of testing, or they have not made accurate meters.
I simply suggest making a series or 2 or 3 tests per time and check to see if your meters stay close enough to the original reading. If it is consistent, Then I am sure it will be quite fine. I just have had no luck with them in several years.
Don

[pacon]

Originally posted by dpav
I really do not wish to scare off anyone from their choice of meters. But the biggest thing I have found, SO FAR, is all of the Plasma meters I have owned have been 25 to 40 mg/dsl higher than all of the whole blood meters I have owned.

Plasma readings are 12% higher than whole blood readings, in average, and that’s the way it’s supposed to be. The accuracy with these meters is a different problem…

[lgvincent]

I've been trying to get the One Touch UltraSmart meter for some time and now that I've gotten one it sort of looks like it's worthless. Good thing I didn't have to pay a lot for it, although the strips sure are high. Guess I should have saved the money and put it on one of those Freestyle Tracker's that I'd love to have but will never be able to afford. My brain must look like swiss cheese, with lots of air pockets in it.

[Clint]

I started with a One Touch basic that my CDE gave me and I hated it. My CDE then gave me a One Touch Profile and it was much better. I just don't like how much blood it takes to test.

I now have an Accu Check Advantage and I like it ok. I am really tired of pricking my fingers so I am really considering getting a Freestyle Flash.

[dpav]

The only thing I care about is, does the meter keep reading the same level of blood sugar during multiple tests. Like taking 3 or 4 tests at the same time, will the reading be very close to each other. If that is so, Then I will be comfortable with it. I understood the Ultra Smart was reading higher. That was fine; But It read multiple tests with a wide range of answers within 5 minutes. , The same with the other two I used.
By the way there are brand new test strips for the profile. They are blue in color and require much less blood for the tests. I like that part about the new strips.
If you have regular readings with plasma meters let me know.
I hate the blood for 12 tests per day but I hate to be out of control more.

[pacon]

Hot topic this is. I suppose I have to say something about my favourite meter, just not risking being out of topic. Ultra is my favourite daily meter (until I can get hand of the Ultra Smart or something similar). It’s small, quick, reliable, and has the highest temperature span. I have tested a lot of different meters, and I realize that there are meters for every need. I also have a meter with very high accuracy, but I only use this one when there really is a problem, just because the Ultra, and meters like Ultra, is so much easier to use.

Originally posted by dpav
The only thing I care about is, does the meter keep reading the same level of blood sugar during multiple tests. Like taking 3 or 4 tests at the same time, will the reading be very close to each other.

Last year I used three Ultras simultaneously, to test this out. I posted my results earlier here on the forum.

http://www.diabetesforums.com/showthread.php?postid=9715#post9715

Later I did the same test with two Freestyle meters, with the new plasma adjusted strips, and also compared this to a lab meter. The result was exactly the same as for the Ultra meters. The error margin with all these meters is really -+20%, as the manufactures state, especially when BG levels are below 100 mg/dl. However, FDA doesn’t require more from these meters, and manufactures won’t do more than the have to, to be able to sell test strips. Manufactures state that they can provide test strips with higher accuracy, but that this strips will be so expensive, nobody will by them.:confused:

But this is only a problem if you have a really tight control over your diabetes, or if you can’t feel hypos anymore, otherwise its ok I guess.

[Bolman]

Glad I started this topic, I have learned a lot reading about everyones experiance with the large varity of meters. About two years ago I used a meter which i beleive was a product of One Touch, it also tested you'r blood for keytones. Has anyone else ever tried this? I loved it and I recently heard that it has been discontinued.

Kelly

[dpav]

Thanks Pacon
This additional information has helped back up my experience. I simply do not yet have any trust in any Plasma meters at this time. So far the only meter that has remained consistent with my testing has been any and all of my whole blood meters. At this time I am using the Profile.
It is still disappointing that I can not trust meters to stay the same with the same tests.

[Linda57]

I use an Accu-chek Advantage, which I think, is small, compact and sexy looking.

Its the first and only one I have ever owned, and I am very happy with it.

Occaisionally, when I want to test , it has a picture of a little thermometer on it - I am assuing this is because I have kept it where it has got too cold - do I wait for it to warm up before using?

Love Linda

[lgvincent]

That indicates that the meter is too cold or too hot. I've had it happen when I've left it in a car on a hot day or when I've left it in a cold room. I usually try to let it warm up or cool off, whatever the case may be, before using it. Although I could be wrong, I'm under the impression that the blood glucose reading may not be as accurate when the meter has been exposed to temperatures outside it's operating range and that picture is used as a warning to let you know to take that fact into consideration.

[Gary]

I really do appreciate the offer but what I have in mind is something psychedelic or Funka-delic.

Right On.! Can you dig it? You bet your Bippy! Power to the People! Look that up in your Funk and Wagnails!

That kind of thing.

rzrbks, don't forget, "Here Comes The Judge", or "The Devil Made Me Do It", LOL!

Freestyle is the meter I use, and it seems to do the job for me.

Zookeeper, those meter skins are a great idea! Now if they only had them for sports teams.

[Belinda]

How can one of those meters be sexy?

[Linda57]

It just is - ok? *blushes*

Linda

[Belinda]

If you say so but I have found nothing about diabetes sexy....except that the fact that my significant other dotes on me when my B/G drops or when I need to check it then I get all the attention....LOL

[gugarci]

My son and I both use the Freestyle. He has a Flash i used the original. I think the small blood sample is very important with little kids. My son is 7.

[Deager]

My husband has used many meters over the years (can't even remember all the names to list here) and for the last couple of years used the Ultra One Touch and really liked it. I d/l the software and ordered the interface cable (19.95 at Lifescan) and thought it was great too altho the software needs a lot of improving as far as I'm concerned.

Anyway, we recently got the One Touch UltraSmart and are SOLD. I got it thru Diabetic Express (Diabeticexpress.com) and after the two rebates it was $9.95. The cable I had for the One Touch works with the UltraSmart and the software is the same (oh how I wish they would improve that!) as are the test strips. It lets us put in his insulin and food and exercise and we can print out the graph for x amount of days for the doc. We are happy with it and would recommend it. Since you can test on a variety of places (as with the Ultra One Touch) it doesn't hurt as much and my husband tests much more often.....4 or more times a day which helps us both a lot. He can plan his insulin better and I can plan meals better. More infomation is good as far as we are concerned.