Research on Monitoring Systems

[eklektosoftheos]

Hello everyone,
I'm doing some research on Blood Glucose Monitoring systems and was hoping to utilize the expertise of anyone who would be willing to help me out in this regard. So, if you have a few minutes would you please respond to the following questions? Your insight(s) would be greatly appreciated.

1.) What monitoring system do you use?
2.) How much does/did the monitor cost?
3.) How much do the testing strips cost, and for how many?
4.) How many testing strips do you use per day?
5.) What are/were the top reasons that caused you to buy/use your current monitor and strips?
6.) Was/is the monitor that you use covered by your insurance? If so, how much was/is covered?
7.) Are the testing strips that you use covered by your insurance? If so, how much was/is covered?

Thank you in advance for your response(s).

[spike]

Your questions presuppose that we are all using just one meter. You might rephrase your list of questions to make it more realistic.

[eklektosoftheos]

Questions 1 and 2 should actually read:

"1.) What monitoring system(s) do you use?"

"2.) How much does/did the monitor(s) cost?"

updated per feedback from spike to not assume that just one monitor is being used. Thank you for the feedback, its always welcome.

[BriOnH]

1.) What monitoring system do you use?
Freestyle Flash
2.) How much does/did the monitor cost?
70$
3.) How much do the testing strips cost, and for how many?
45$ / 100 strips
4.) How many testing strips do you use per day?
roughly 10
5.) What are/were the top reasons that caused you to buy/use your current monitor and strips?
Its size, and amount of blood used
6.) Was/is the monitor that you use covered by your insurance? If so, how much was/is covered?
No. My insurance covers LifeScan meters.
7.) Are the testing strips that you use covered by your insurance? If so, how much was/is covered?
No, I have to buy them otc.

This isn't the best way to gather and calculate data, you are going to have a lot of data entry to do. May I ask what this is for?

[spike]

1.) What monitoring system do you use?
Ultra 2 (all ultras used much of the time)
UltraSmart
Ultra
Compact Plus - 2nd choice
Flash - seldom

2.) How much does/did the monitor cost?
Mostly all were free, after rebates or insurance coverage.
I did spend $20 on the Ultra2 and have not seeked reimbursement because it's not worth the effort to fill out the paperwork for just $20.

3.) How much do the testing strips cost, and for how many?
600 per month. I get as many as I need with no copay.

4.) How many testing strips do you use per day?
18+
5.) What are/were the top reasons that caused you to buy/use your current monitor and strips?

Accuracy, speed, and reliability.
6.) Was/is the monitor that you use covered by your insurance? If so, how much was/is covered?
see #2
7.) Are the testing strips that you use covered by your insurance? If so, how much was/is covered?
see#3

[jenet]

1.) What monitoring system do you use?
Accu-Check Aviva

2.) How much does/did the monitor cost?
No clue - provided for free by insurance

3.) How much do the testing strips cost, and for how many?
No clue - provided for free by insurance

4.) How many testing strips do you use per day?
Average 10-12/day; some days 15.

5.) What are/were the top reasons that caused you to buy/use your current monitor and strips?
No choice. Only Accu-Check meters and strips are covered by my insurance.

6.) Was/is the monitor that you use covered by your insurance? If so, how much was/is covered?
Accu-Check meters are free by mail order through my insurance.

7.) Are the testing strips that you use covered by your insurance? If so, how much was/is covered?
Only Accu-Check test strips are covered by my insurance.
Accu-Check test strips are free by mail order.

[ladytaz]

1.) What monitoring system do you use?
One Touch Ultra.

2.) How much does/did the monitor cost?
First one about $70, second one was free.

3.) How much do the testing strips cost, and for how many?
Just under $40 per 50 strips.

4.) How many testing strips do you use per day?
Depends ... 2 - 10 normally

5.) What are/were the top reasons that caused you to buy/use your current monitor and strips?
Accuracy, size of meter, quickness and small amount of blood needed.

6.) Was/is the monitor that you use covered by your insurance? If so, how much was/is covered?
Dont have insurance, I pay for everything out of my own pocket.

7.) Are the testing strips that you use covered by your insurance? If so, how much was/is covered?
Don't have insurance, I pay for everything out of my own pocket.

[Cyborg]

1.) What monitoring system do you use?
One Touch UltraSmart.

2.) How much does/did the monitor cost?
Never paid for a meter. 25-75$ depending on sales/rebates.

3.) How much do the testing strips cost, and for how many?
Just under $40 per 50 strips.

4.) How many testing strips do you use per day?
8 - 10 normally

5.) What are/were the top reasons that caused you to buy/use your current monitor and strips?
Accuracy, size of meter, features and small amount of blood needed.

6.) Was/is the monitor that you use covered by your insurance? If so, how much was/is covered?
Not sure. Always got free meters.

7.) Are the testing strips that you use covered by your insurance? If so, how much was/is covered?
Yes. I pay 7$ copay for 300 strips/month.

[trowter]

1.) What monitoring system do you use?
One Touch Ultra

2.) How much does/did the monitor cost?
Have never paid for a meter

3.) How much do the testing strips cost, and for how many?
I pay around $9 per hundred...My insurance pays the rest

4.) How many testing strips do you use per day?
1-4

5.) What are/were the top reasons that caused you to buy/use your current monitor and strips?
Accuracy. ease of use

6.) Was/is the monitor that you use covered by your insurance? If so, how much was/is covered?
Have never paid for a meter, but I believe my insurance pays up to $50

7.) Are the testing strips that you use covered by your insurance? If so, how much was/is covered?
Yes...I pay around $9 per hundred

[JasonJayhawk]

1.) What monitoring system do you use?
Accu-chek Aviva / Freestyle Flash (phasing out, running out of strips)

2.) How much does/did the monitor cost?
Free / Free (obtained from insurance company & meter company / obtained from doctor & meter company)

3.) How much do the testing strips cost, and for how many?
~$90 per 100 strips (insurance company cost). My out-of-pocket cost: $80/month

4.) How many testing strips do you use per day?
10-12 per day

5.) What are/were the top reasons that caused you to buy/use your current monitor and strips?
insurance company covers the strips for it. Hence, I'm phasing out the Flash (though it's a better meter=uses less blood).

6.) Was/is the monitor that you use covered by your insurance? If so, how much was/is covered?
(see above)
7.) Are the testing strips that you use covered by your insurance? If so, how much was/is covered?
(see above)

[BriOnH]

1.) What monitoring system do you use?
Accu-chek Aviva / Freestyle Flash (phasing out, running out of strips)


Which do you prefer Jason?

[JasonJayhawk]

Freestyle Flash, Brian! Insurance doesn't cover it, so I'm coming close to end of my strips from my last insurance company. The size, portability in my pocket (doesn't make it look like I'm always "happy"), small sample size, extremely low chance for errors (the Aviva matches this, but has a significantly reduced time to fill the strip with blood if insufficient quantities are presented to it), and ability to use it without extra lighting (backlight and strip light) make it the clear winner to me.

I give Therasense a thumbs-up on the attempt of creating an Onetouch Ultrasmart "clone", too -- with the PDA tracker. That didn't last long, but their Handspring module was innovative at the time, but lost any chance of survival when Handspring bit the bitbucket. (sigh -- know anyone who needs the first Handspring model, almost new? :shot: )

[Dewey]

1.) What monitoring system(s) do you use?
One Touch UltraSmart, Freestyle Flash & Reli-On Ultima

2.) How much does/did the monitor cost?
The One Touch & Freestyle meters were free, and the Reli-On Ultima only cost $8.88

3.) How much do the testing strips cost, and for how many?
For the One Touch & Freestyle metes, the strips had a co-pay (insurance, approx. $70 tops), and for the Reli-On strips, it only cost $21.94 for 50 & $42.94 for 100 (very reasonable!).

4.) How many testing strips do you use per day?
Approximately 10 - 12.

5.) What are/were the top reasons that caused you to buy/use your current monitor and strips?
With the UltraSmart, the top reason(s) I like it are the memory and download capability.

The top reasons I like the Freestyle are backlighting, strip lighting & the fact that the meter waits till the stip's filled to start countdown. I also like the download capability.

The top reasons I chose the Reli-On Ultima are price and strip price, along with download capability.

6.) Was/is the monitor that you use covered by your insurance? If so, how much was/is covered?
The UltraSmart & Freestyle Flash meters were free with other purchases and trade-ins. The Reli-On wasn't covered, and I'm not sure whether or not they're on the list of meters covered by insurance.

7.) Are the testing strips that you use covered by your insurance? If so, how much was/is covered?
Yes, they're covered at approx. 85% or so. I get 6 to 9 boxes of 100 One Touch strips a piece, for about $70 every 3 months. Prior to that, I was getting 9 boxes of Freestyle strips for about $100 (or a little more) every 3 months.