What is the Freestyle Papillon Mini meter like?

[chlojoau]

:elefant:
Hello fellow tester's.
Does anyone own a Freestyle Papillon Mini BGmeter?
I need to up grade and thought this looks OK.
Just like to know what it's like size wise and ease of use etc.
Thanks, Gary.:elefant:

[Cinnabon]

" I want one"!!!!! lol
It looks so cool!

Features

* The new FreeStyle Papillon™ mini is the smallest featured blood glucose meter i
* Virtually pain free testing, requiring a tiny blood sample to start a test.
* Allows flexibility to test on alternative sites to rest fingertips*
* Proven accuracy**
* Average 7 second test time - so you can get on with life
* Back light and test port light - easy to apply the blood sample and check the results in low light
* Programmable alarms - 4 daily reminders with an adjustable volume that you can set to suit your lifestyle
* Test will only start with a sufficient blood sample
* Stores 250 test results with 14 day average - allows review of results quickly and easily

[camjen1]

Mars, isn't it the same as our Freestyle Flash? I think in Australia they have the same meters but just different names.

[Ricros]

Looks like the Freestyle Flash. I use it and I like it. It does not take alot of blood and the sticks are almost painless. But of cource when you stick a piece of steel in your body there will be a small amount of pain. It reads quickly and for me is pretty accurate at least the doctor likes the readings. It does not have alot of fancy bells and whistles. It just gives the 14 day average and I think 250 past readings. You can download it to a computer useing their software and cable. It does not dstinquish between a hi or low like some of the new meters just simply the bg number.
But it is small and the case is small also. My opinion.

[Cinnabon]

It sure does, Sandie...
I used to use the Freestyle flash and LOVED it. My insurance doesnt cover the strips anymore so I switched to One Touch. I dont remember if it had this feature...
* Test will only start with a sufficient blood sample

[Diana]

Ooh, this is my current meter. I have the papillon, but I think it is indeed exactly the same as the flash.

So overall its a good meter. I like the light feature. When you turn the light on, the screen lights up. Press the button again and a light illuminates the test strip, showing you where to put the blood. When enough blood is sucked up, the light goes back to the screen. Very cool.

Ok, so there is lots of good bits about it, but here is some of the bad
1) It doesnt automatically turn on when you insert a strip.
2) It takes about 7 seconds, which is a bit longer than the xceed
3) The memory is a bit more fiddly to get into than ideal
4) You can only scroll one way through the memory, unlike xceed
5) It is relatively easy to accidently change the code when trying to get into memory

Good things
1) light as described above
2) Strips come in vial - I prefer them this way, you may not
3) Small and good looking
4) Coding is done on meter - you cannot lose the chip (but see bad point 5)

Overall, I like it. I have pretty much every popular Australian meter made in the last 5 years. Its nearest competitor is the Xceed, and I would have to say that I think the Xceed is a little bit better. I really dislike my strips wrapped in foil though, so I stick with my papillon. I also managed to snag a copy of the computer program and a cable so I can download my papillon, which is awesomely cool, and I cant do with my Xceed.

Ricros, I dont understand what you mean about it not distinguishing betwen a high and a low? Could you explain it to me?

[Ricros]

Sure Diana,
I have seen a meter that dislays the word HI if the bg is high. I do not remember what it was sorry. But, I know I have seen it. Then again I could be going insane anything is possible:)

[notme]

It looks like the smarter brother to the Flash. Nice!

[Diana]

Ricros, I think I know what you mean. Most meters will say "HI" when the blood glucose is over what they can read.. 27.8 or 33.3mmol, depending on meter. They will say "LO" if its under what they can read... 0.something. The papillon does that too.

ETA, actually, now I think about it, some of the meters I have used come up with a message saying "check ketones" or similar when the blood sugar is high. If thats what you mean, you're right, the papillon doesnt do that.