Which of these meters do you folks like?

[xsquid]

Hello, just thought I would ask what you folks think of the following meters. I have had a one touch ultra for several years and they just sent me a one touch ultra 2 and an untrasmart. I also have an ascencia breeze and accu-chek is sending me a compact plus. I have been reading threads here and have gotten some info, but I was just wondering if anyone has any comments on any of these meters and which they like the best. I am taking metformin 500mg and testing once a day at the moment. If there is something else I don't have listed that anyone likes better please say so. Agawin the list:

One touch ultra
One touch ultra 2
One touch untrasmart
ascencia breeze
Accu-chek compact plus

I appreciate all info and opinions.

[gettingby]

I have an Ultra, an Ultra2, and an UltraSmart. I love the One Touch line of meters. By downloading my readings to my computer with the One Touch cable and software, I get a lot of useful info that allows me to make any changes that are necessary.
I can't comment on the other meters since I've never used them.:)

[kgm0612]

I also have the One Touch Ultra, Ultra 2, Ultra Smart and the Ultra Mini. Right now I'm using the Ultra 2 as my main meter. The others are kept in various locations, like my nightstand and the glove compartment in the car.

Karen

[xsquid]

Thanks for the quick comments.

I had a serial cable for my ultra, but I wasn't testing for a couple of years and can't find the darn thing anywhere now, and I was downloading and using the software to print out my stats to take to the dr. I called them and they are nice enough to send me a new usb one so I have it on the way.

I really do like the unltra that I have used and the two new ones seem kinda nice too, but the idea of not touching the strips seem kinda enticing.

[nneighbour]

Definitely the Ultra 2. Has most of the tagging features of the UltraSmart without the bulk. Plus it has a bigger memory.

[xsquid]

Plus it has a bigger memory

I didn't realize that, but then I havn't actually read the manuals yet. Need to to do that.

I'm actually using the ultra 2 and put the others in the closet right now because I really don't need the ultrasmart at this time. I should probably break my question down like this:

1. One touch meters (since I have 3 of them and they use the same strips).

2. Ascensia Breeze

3. accu-chek compact plus

Thanks

[notme]

I had the Accu-chek compact plus and liked it. I got a Flash meter and love it. So I stayed with the flash.

[xsquid]

I probably should have said also that I got a freestyle flash once and went back to the ultra.

Thanks

[nneighbour]

The good thing with choosing the OneTouch series would be you have some wiggle room and if you decide you don't like a certain meter anymore you don't have to change strips to switch meters. Or if you think one is malfunctioning you can easily just reference another of the ultra series.

[xsquid]

Good point. The strips I have now are for the one touch meters.

[camjen1]

My preferred meters are the Ultra 2 and the Ultrasmart. Freestyle Freedom anf Flash come next.

[xsquid]

Thanks, seems like most are leaning toward the one touch meter's.

[Funnygrl]

Of those, the Ultra 2 and Ultrasmart are my favorites.

[w5wjp]

I prefer the FreeStyle because of the small sample size. I use the memory in the pump to keep track of everything, so meter memory doesn't matter to me. Since I have been known to test 12+ times a day, small sample size is very important to me.

[owlyn]

Thanks for the quick comments.

I had a serial cable for my ultra, but I wasn't testing for a couple of years and can't find the darn thing anywhere now, and I was downloading and using the software to print out my stats to take to the dr. I called them and they are nice enough to send me a new usb one so I have it on the way.

I really do like the unltra that I have used and the two new ones seem kinda nice too, but the idea of not touching the strips seem kinda enticing.

Are they providing the new cable for free? What did you say to them? When I called, they insisted on charging me full price.

[adrian29459]

I have an Abbott Freestyle Mini for home, A Lifescan Onetouch Ultrasmart for work and before that I had an Abbott Precision Xtra.

The Onetouch Ultrasmart and the Precision Xtra both require a decent amount of blood to work, and if you fall short after the beep, its a stick wasted.

The Onetouch has the widest selection of features of the three, with the ability to store a large variety of information such as food details, medication, exercise, a logbook, calendar, graphs and more. Its has the largest case, although its relatively light and strips come in pots of 25 which is I prefer.

The Precision Xtra is the worst of the three testers in my opinion, with its large chunky case, and annoying strips which come in foil seals. It has some decent averaging features, but nothing else worth shouting about.

My favourate is the freestyle mini, not just because of its size, but its ease of use. Strips come in pots of 50 - which I prefer - and each strip only requires a small dab of blood on one of its thin sides. And it rarely produces an error. The only niggle i've had is that if you leave a strip in the machine for longer than a minute or two then the machine switches off and forgets about the strip and then you might end up putting blood on a strip which isnt actually in the machine properly and then cause an error and waste that strip.

And thats my review!

[gettingby]

The good thing with choosing the OneTouch series would be you have some wiggle room and if you decide you don't like a certain meter anymore you don't have to change strips to switch meters. Or if you think one is malfunctioning you can easily just reference another of the ultra series.
Very good point. I do this quite often hence, the 3 One Touch meters. :)



I'm actually using the ultra 2 and put the others in the closet right now because I really don't need the ultrasmart at this time.

Thanks
I will probably get cyberslapped for saying this but..........
The UltraSmart is more beneficial to a T1 than it may be to a T2 unless the T2 is on intensive insulin therapy. The US gives you more options on graphing and detailing. Makes insulin adjustments so much easier to make.
*The above statement is my personal observation*

[bryan42]

Love the ultra for its downloading capabilities. You can view several different charts and graphs on your readings..

[princesslinda]

I have the One-Touch Ultra-2 and love it! I like having the ability to mark post-meal levels and LOVE the larger sized numbers.

[xsquid]

Are they providing the new cable for free? What did you say to them? When I called, they insisted on charging me full price.

I told them I had been using a serial cable and now needed the usb cable and asked them if they would be nice people and send me the usb version. He got my name and address and said he would send it.

Thanks for all the replies so far.

[owlyn]

Thanks. That's pretty much exactly what I said. Guess I'll try again.

[Cyborg]

My preferred meter is the UltraSmart. :vroam:

[xsquid]

Well guys and gals thought I would post an update. Not that I think my opinion matters to anyone but me, but I have been getting a bunch of free meters to test out and thought I would post what I think so far. These are in no particular order and NOT according to my rating.

1. Accu-chek portable plus- I like the idea of not having to touch the strips a lot and I like the softclik. I even like both of them attached. It's just bulky and seems to need a lot of blood. If it was a little smaller and didn't need a gush of blood I might go with it. Otherwise I think I've eliminated it from my list of possibles.

2. Freestyle-Nice small amount of blood, small pouch and all. I have a freedom coming also and want to try that. Not out of the running yet.

3. Onetouch-Familiar since I have used an ultra before. Still in the running and I have 4 meters to switch between. I really don't need the ultrasmart though as I'm type 2 meds only and the ultramini is virtually the same overall size including the case as the ultra 2 (just shaped different) so I would just pretty much use the ultra 2 or ultra.

4. Walgreens smart system IQ-Bleh

5. Ascensia Breeze- I actually like this meter except for the long wait for test results and large drop of blood needed. I like the no touch strips. I upgraded to the Breeze 2 on their website and it has quicker test results and smaller blood drop size. Both of these will be the same as the one touch ultra 2 and that may make it a sleeper. Just have to see if and when it gets here.

So I really didn't do much so far except for eliminating the accu-chek and ascensia breeze and am still deciding between the one touch ultra 2 and freestyle which probably doesn't suprise most of you. I am waiting on the breeze 2 and really want to like it due to the no touch strips. I jsut had some free time and though I would waste it posting my thoughts.:)

I guess everyone can tell I'm one of those people that give myself a headache researching and trying stuff before I actually decide on anything.

[did2007]

I like the one touch ultra 2 the best, although I want one of those black ultra mini monitors to take with me when I go to work or to school. I'll wait until I can get one at no cost through the free program one touch has.

I'll never use a accu-check because of the inaccuracy and the wasted strips of the last one I bought.

[did2007]

...however, i'll keep the accu chek softclix because i have a bunch of lancets for that device, and when those run out i'll use the ultrasoft that came with my onetouch.

[orsaugen]

I have been relying on OneTouch Ultra for more years than I can remember (I own four of them). I like the support staffat OneTouch, I love the PC software that comes with it, and since I am also an avid DexCom fan I appreciate the fact that the two devices interface.

[spirosway]

I liked ascentia breeze but in Greece not exist the meter...but i have ascentia contur and it its very good...big memory ,fast reading,connect with pc!!nice!!!

[xsquid]

I have been trying all of them and I definitely like the ascensia Breeze 2 the best. Since the made the test time faster and the blood drops smaller I like it a lot. I called them and they sent me a free digital cable, while I was on the phone I told them I had a coupon for 25.00 off of the microlet vacculance and they sent it free also. The vacculance is really pretty cool for alternate site testing.

Ascensia MICROLET VACULANCE (http://www.bayercarediabetes.com/1169.htm)

[sleepy_hound]

Hmmm, this has been a very interesting thread! I have always known the Accu-Chek meters (my mother was a diabetic, and I work in a hospital where Accu-Chek is our supplier...and the US headquarters for Roche Diagnostics is here in town). However, this thread may have me doing a little extra homework. I own the Accu-Chek Compact and love it because I hate having to carry strips around. I also love the size of the strips in the drum. My endo's office downloads my meter readings at every appt so we both have copies of my BG trends.

I did a survey and will recieve the new OneTouch UltraMini in the mail in the next few weeks, so I'll have to start checking other meters out! Good to know!

[Dewey]

I can't really comment on the Accu-chek Plus, since I've not owned that particular meter. I will however, say that of the meters listed for your choices, the One Touch Ultra2 seems best (personal opinion only).

I've used an older model of the Ascensia Breeze (the Dex), and wasn't impressed with it, truthfully. It seemed to sometimes waste strips (due to the strip catching, etc.) and had other hosts of problems. Of the Ascensia meters, I like the Contour best.

In terms of Accu-chek, I've heard fellow users complain of inconsistencies between their meters and others. I own an Aviva and when I tested between it & other meters, readings were a bit different. It's been a while since I did comparisons, so can't remember just how much of a difference there was...

Despite the sometimes annoying wasted strips (i.e. not enough blood in the strip, meter not ready - still checking code, etc.), I Love the One Touch brand of meters. The info. that the software provides is very useful to endos & users alike! I know that the UltraSmart is bigger or more bulky, but it does offer more memory. The Ultra2 would be my second choice.

Hope this helps, and welcome aboard, xsquid! :shakehand

[xsquid]

Thanks Dewey and I will keep an eye on the breeze 2. I have only used it for the 10 strips that came with it and it hasn't wasted any out of those, but if it does I will definitely relay that here.

[msdebagain]

i had the one touch ultra, but just found out fri that my insurance, health net is not covering it anymore (strips etc) so they gave me the option of freestyle, precision and accucheck. i am choosing the freestyle just for the small sample size. will be picking it up shortly

[bernfarr]

I recently tried the WaveSense Keynote (http://agamatrix.com/product_wave_1.shtml) and really liked it. It's new so a lot of folks are using it.

[sweetstick80]

I now use the Accu-Chek advantage, very happy with it. It appears to THINK a bit slow, but it`s easy to read and free.
Speaking of free, I used a Freestyle Flash for a couple of years and really liked the light up screen. My diabetic cat now uses that one, but I don`t think she appreciates all the features, just the really tiny sample......Jack