Monitor preferences?

[Wife]

When my husband meets with the doctor next week (newly diagnosed, doing tests and meeting with dietitian this week) he will be given a script for a monitor. Not knowing anything about these, I am hoping for preferences.

So, what do you use? What is the "Holy Grail" of monitors? We are gadget geeks, so would quite like bells and whistles if they have 'em.

How long should a monitor last? What supplies do you need for the brand you use?

Are there specific ones to from which to stay away?

Thank you, all, for your input and opinions!!

[spike]

Any Ultra by LifeScan. Ultra, Ultra2, UltraSmart, Ultra Mini. the market leaders and very accurate. accept no imitations! :)
You are going to be inundated with different opinions...

[poodlebone]

If you are a gadget geek then you will definitely want the UltraSmart. It does the most, way more than any other meter. You not only get your BG results but you can add meal tags to them, exercise & health tags to individual readings. You can enter meal info such as carbs, protein & fat. You can enter exercise minutes and intensity. It will store other test results such as A1c and cholesterol.

I love my UltraSmart and currently there is no other meter that I'm aware of that will allow me to even add insulin & carbs numbers to a test result. I'm Type 1, and really like to keep track of that. With the UltraSmart you can also set it up for two oral meds if you're a Type 2.

[corwin]

I'm using freestyle and it gets the job done. I'm thinking of getting the freestyle flash becaue it's smaller so it's easier to carry around. I also like the "test in the dark" option. Some people like all the high tech features, for me as long as it's small enough to fit in my pocket and it gives me the number I'm looking for, I'm happy. It's a matter of preference, since you like the bells and whistles maybe the UltraSmart will fit your style better.

[Stuboy]

i have and really like the ultrasmart. It can log your carbs, protein, fat and calories, your medications, excersise and health status, as well as flag your readings as either before/after breakfast/lunch/dinner or night readings, or not flag them at all!
It also gives you tons of averages of readings, and even displays a plotted graph of your results. I find the case is good too. i carry everything i need in my ultrasmart case! including an extra pot for used strips, glucogel, spare needles, AST tip and calibration fluid!!

Oh yeh, the ultrasmart's screen also lights up so testing int he dark isn't a problem!

I have used the Ultra, that's ok but it's very very basic.

[LI_Beach_Girl]

[SIZE="4"]Personally I wouldn't wait for the script. You can get free meters by mail now. You can get a free ascencia contour or breeze from this site: http://www.bayercarediabetes.com/prodserv/products/contour/index.asp I received mine in less than a week. there is also the One touch which you may qualify for at this site: https://www.lifescan.com/products/simplestart/. I wish I had known about this when I was first diagnosed. I would also check and see what your insurance will cover. Some meters are prefered by some insurance companies, and they may only cover certain brands of strips.

[JediSkipdogg]

Beach brought up the right idea. If you get a script, that means you are most likely going to have to pay for the meter. Secondly, meters don't need scripts at all. Only if you want insurance to pay any part do you, and well, like Beach brought up, they are either free or so darn cheap it's just pocket change. I know alot of meters have mail in rebates with them.

The first thing you need to find out though is which brand is preferred by your insurance company. Strips are a prescription item and different brands fall into different levels with different insurance companies. For me, Lifescan is a Tier 2 and the Freestyle is a Tier 3, so I'd have to pay twice as much a month for Freestyle. That's something to consider. After you have that down, you should be able to call the companies and get a free meter. Lifescan may be a tad harder to do, but just ask for the local sales rep number and he'll/she'll send you one for free.

Good luck.

[Cyborg]

I prefer the UltraSmart.

[Dewey]

For bells & whistles, I'd definitely opt for the UltraSmart, by Lifescan.

If you're looking for ease of use & (as someone else mentioned) the ability to test in the dark, then Freestyle Flash is a great meter.

I have & love them both. Each has great features, but if you're a gadget person, then UltraSmart is probably the best option. :thumbsup:

[arath13]

Flash for it size and Freedom if your eyes are not the best.

VERY ACCURATE! Plus, you can get free software and cable from the company!



OUT!

[seacomp]

To clarify, while the testing strips do not need a prescription, you want to get a prescription for them (at a good testing rate, at least 4 per day) so that you can get ome insurance coverage.

[gettingby]

I'm a Lifescan gal. I have the Ultra and the UltraSmart. I love the Ultra line.:)
Just my opinion. Do your homework and visit the monitor websites.
You can do a web search for glucose monitors and get the websites.:)

[lgvincent]

I like the AccuChek Advantage and the Freestyle Flash.

[dgrilli]

I have Seven different meters. My tried and true for years One Touch UltraSmart I have 2 of These. One came with my Animas 1250 Pump.

I have just purchased an UltraSmart Mini. Although the reading differ by allot between these as the BG rises the more off they are from each other.

I got a MediSense Precision Xtra This one will check Blood Ketone's as well as BG's. This one is nice. I got this free from the Company Rep. I actually like this meter I got a script for Ketone Test Strips for this one and watch my Ketone's rise as my BG' rises so it seems.

I got a FreeStyle Flash from a rep and it is nice. This is a Nice Meter.

I received a Ascensia Breeze and a Contour from the Bayer Rep going to Local Awareness classes at the Hospital. These are OK but just so so.

I have loaded them all and took my reading from one sample to see how they would line up all with 15 but the Mini seems to read higher than the rest.

I have know Idea why I collected all these meters. I used to have an Accucheck years ago that required this awful big sample and a One Touch was way better than that dinosaur. The Breeze requires a big sample.

Out of all would rate One Touch UltraSmart the best then the Precision Xtra next. The Mini is more in line when the BG is closer to normal.

Anybody else have a collection of meters?

[BriOnH]

Freestyle Flash Requires a noticably smaller size blood sample too.

[amccrazgrl]

I started out with Accucheck and have a super old one from 96 plus a newer one from 05. I like both of those meters.
Now I have my built-in freestyle on my pump and have been testing on my forearm recently.
I got a free BD Logic meter which wasn't bad easy to read and use.
Freestyle easy to use also.
Pick one with features you like small blood sample?,small meter?, coding test strips?, etc.
Like everyone has said read about the meters and figure out what your insurances covers if they do.

[JungleJim]

I use the Ascensia Breeze because I like not having to tote strips around. Keep one at work and one at home.

[Funnygrl]

My two favorites are Freestyle Flash and Accu-chek Aviva.

You can get meters for free anywhere, so your best bet is to try them all and decide for yourself. That's what I did.

[Cyborg]

I got a MediSense Precision Xtra This one will check Blood Ketone's as well as BG's. This one is nice. I got this free from the Company Rep. I actually like this meter I got a script for Ketone Test Strips for this one and watch my Ketone's rise as my BG' rises so it seems.

I also have one of those. And a ton of the ketone strips that are difficult to find anymore. I'm worried they will probably go bad before I ever end up using the supply I have.

[Twister212]

When my husband meets with the doctor next week (newly diagnosed, doing tests and meeting with dietitian this week) he will be given a script for a monitor. Not knowing anything about these, I am hoping for preferences.

So, what do you use? What is the "Holy Grail" of monitors? We are gadget geeks, so would quite like bells and whistles if they have 'em.

How long should a monitor last? What supplies do you need for the brand you use?

Are there specific ones to from which to stay away?

Thank you, all, for your input and opinions!!
Depends on you. I have had many and currently use the Dexcom continuous glucose monitor along with the required onetouch ultra.

I have an ultra smart which i haven't used in years. It requires one to enter data continuously throughout the day on what you eat, when you exercise etc etc. It is a great idea to do so, but I stopped after a week, so the extra bulk and complexity isn't worth it.

I also have a freestyle flash which is very small. In my experience, small and convenient beats most of the other attributes, so -- excepting the dexcom -- I would vote for the flash, or any other meter that is smaller (the sidekick is a smaller meter that is part of the cap to the strip bottle...very small).

I think this is particularly important for men since we don't have purses and just dump all of our junk in our pockets. You start looking a bit like a clown with big meters etc in your front pockets.

[Twister212]

When my husband meets with the doctor next week (newly diagnosed, doing tests and meeting with dietitian this week) he will be given a script for a monitor. Not knowing anything about these, I am hoping for preferences.

So, what do you use? What is the "Holy Grail" of monitors? We are gadget geeks, so would quite like bells and whistles if they have 'em.

How long should a monitor last? What supplies do you need for the brand you use?

Are there specific ones to from which to stay away?

Thank you, all, for your input and opinions!!
I should be more clear...for gadget geeks and those who can deal with the bleeding edge (meaning great new features, but some hiccups that are still being worked out), the Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitor is the only option right now. It has greatly improved my HBA1Cs and reduced hypoglycemic incidents to almost zero. It is far from a perfect product, but it is way better than the others on the market (more accurate as well as cheaper). The Abbott Navigator is another continuous glucose monitor that is supposed to hit the market within the next month or so. The early word is that it will be more accurate and cheaper than the Dex, but it has been plagued by delays. It was supposed to be in the market two years ago. If you want one of these, it is probably better to wait for the Navigator at this point, unless it looks like it will be delayed again.

Bottom line: I have used all of the Dex's available competitors and i highly recommend this product.

[Twister212]

When my husband meets with the doctor next week (newly diagnosed, doing tests and meeting with dietitian this week) he will be given a script for a monitor. Not knowing anything about these, I am hoping for preferences.

So, what do you use? What is the "Holy Grail" of monitors? We are gadget geeks, so would quite like bells and whistles if they have 'em.

How long should a monitor last? What supplies do you need for the brand you use?

Are there specific ones to from which to stay away?

Thank you, all, for your input and opinions!!
Just saw this new Ultra Mini. Looks great.


http://www.diabetesforums.com/monitoring/12334-got-my-ultra-mini.html

[spike]

Just saw this new Ultra Mini. Looks great.


http://www.diabetesforums.com/monitoring/12334-got-my-ultra-mini.html


I've had 3 of the Minis. it's fine except for the trouble getting the strips inserted. the meter often tears the black top covering and you have to jam the strip in hard. never had that trouble with any other of my various Ultra models. I spoke with a LifeScan support supervisor about it. He claims compaints are few (not nonexistant), but few enough that they have no immediate plans for any fix.

[melissata]

Depends on you. I have had many and currently use the Dexcom continuous glucose monitor along with the required onetouch ultra.

I have an ultra smart which i haven't used in years. It requires one to enter data continuously throughout the day on what you eat, when you exercise etc etc. It is a great idea to do so, but I stopped after a week, so the extra bulk and complexity isn't worth it.

I also have a freestyle flash which is very small. In my experience, small and convenient beats most of the other attributes, so -- excepting the dexcom -- I would vote for the flash, or any other meter that is smaller (the sidekick is a smaller meter that is part of the cap to the strip bottle...very small).

I think this is particularly important for men since we don't have purses and just dump all of our junk in our pockets. You start looking a bit like a clown with big meters etc in your front pockets.

I just want to add that you don't have to enter the carb and exercise data with the Ultra Smart. We never did, and still think it is a great meter. Very useful for picking up trends that would easily be missed. Our endo requests blood sugar averages by time of day, so people with regular meters have to do the math before the visit. This meter will give you all that data. My son still uses one, and doesn't mind the larger sample size. Now that my daughter has been using the BD, she wouldn't want to go back to that meter. The Freestyle and Flash use the same small sample size. Right now almost all of the meter companies are sending them out free, including the Ultra Smart.

[sofaraway]

Looks like i'm the only one so far using the medisense precision xceed. i got this meter because i was just sent a free upgrade, so i tried it. i like it, it's pretty basic, but it does what i need. it's pretty small and compact.

and it has the option of ketone testing, which i have needed to use in the past and it kept me form being admitted to hospital, so that was good!

[JasonJayhawk]

Here's a survey that shows what people who took part in the CWD poll on meters:

children with DIABETES - Poll Results (http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/poll/poll20061001.htm)

Basically, the Freestyle Flash leads in popularity with 21% of the pollsters, and the OneTouch Ultrasmart at 20%.

[BriOnH]

Basically, the Freestyle Flash leads in popularity with 21% of the pollsters, and the OneTouch Ultrasmart at 20%.

:)

Most insurance companies wont cover it either.

[spike]

:)

Most insurance companies wont cover it either.

That's news to me! They reimbursed me 100% and also for my wife's UltraSmart...

[JasonJayhawk]

Most insurance companies wont cover it either.

Yeah... I'm "stuck" with the Accu-chek Aviva or the OneTouch, so I'm with the Aviva because it needs 33% less blood than the OneTouch.

Maybe the insurance companies look at what is popular and decide not to cover them! :marchmell

[Gordonm]

I was just given the One Touch Ultra smart by my Endo. I got the BD meter with the MM pump and it will be shelved as soon as the strips for the One Touch come in. I had been using the Accu Check for 2 years prior to that.

[Twister212]

I just want to add that you don't have to enter the carb and exercise data with the Ultra Smart. We never did, and still think it is a great meter. Very useful for picking up trends that would easily be missed. Our endo requests blood sugar averages by time of day, so people with regular meters have to do the math before the visit. This meter will give you all that data. My son still uses one, and doesn't mind the larger sample size. Now that my daughter has been using the BD, she wouldn't want to go back to that meter. The Freestyle and Flash use the same small sample size. Right now almost all of the meter companies are sending them out free, including the Ultra Smart.
Yes, its fine...its just that I fine smaller is more convenient unless I am using all of the fancy functionality. W/r/t those averages your endo requires, they are specious numbers -- they seem meaningful but they are not since you are getting point-in-time metrics that are always changing. Which is to say, the fact that you do a test at 11am and are 120bg doesn't mean that you aren't 150bg fifteen minutes before or after. One's test numbers and average "scores" depend a great deal on happenstance rather than diabetes management.


That is why, to me, the most important thing happening in diabetes management today revolves around continuous glucose monitoring. Way more important than inhalable insulin, pumps, pills, etc. (Of course, a cure makes all of this stuff obsolete).

[Cyborg]

Once they come up with a good CGMS, i'll get another one...

[jenet]

I loved my UltraSmart, but when my insurance quit covering the test strips for it, I decided I didn't love it enough to pay 100% out of pocket for the strips. I changed to the AccuCheck Aviva, which is one of the meters provided by my insurance with strips covered 100%, so I got the meter and all the strips I need for free. The Aviva seems to be pretty accurate, as my A1C continues to improve without any odd lows or highs (unless I seriously blow my carb counting).

Choosing one of the meters my insurance mail order program covered saved me the $220/month it would have cost to stay with the UltraSmart. Just a thought.

cheers,
j

[spike]

I loved my UltraSmart, but when my insurance quit covering the test strips for it, I decided I didn't love it enough to pay 100% out of pocket for the strips. I changed to the AccuCheck Aviva, which is one of the meters provided by my insurance with strips covered 100%, so I got the meter and all the strips I need for free. The Aviva seems to be pretty accurate, as my A1C continues to improve without any odd lows or highs (unless I seriously blow my carb counting).

Choosing one of the meters my insurance mail order program covered saved me the $220/month it would have cost to stay with the UltraSmart. Just a thought.

cheers,
j

Our Bluecross PPO covers 100% of Ultra strips. My wife has to pay a $10 copay for BD strips. I keep trying to talk her out of using them, but I'm getting nowhere. :)