Home A1c meter

[Dawn]

I saw a member mention in a post a home A1c meter. I wondered if others on the group are using a home meter and what people think about them and where do I get one. Thanks
Dawn :)

[someone]

There used to be a home a1c test called a1cnow, but for some reason they discontinued it. Perhaps it was too expensive at $25 per test. I used it 2 times and thought it was pretty good.. though I don't know how accurate the results were.

I haven't heard of any other home a1c tests since a1cnow.. I do know that there are some mail in tests where you just mail them a blood sample and they do the test then send you the results.

EDIT: the a1cnow still exists, but it is now only sold to health care providers

[Alice]

I called about the A1C Now tests a few weeks ago. They said they were bought out (I think Bayer had some association with them) and that they were coming out with a different brand in January.

Since they are a fingertip test, the readings are different from arterial glucose. But, I think they were a good indicator of where you are in general terms. Not as accurate as the lab test and even those have a range but are more standardized.

There is someone on ebay selling another brand of A1C meters, both full-scale and disposable.

[duck]

The Choice A1c kits were accurate as far as my comparison to a lab test. I'll be looking into some other "home" kits soon, as I feel testing monthly really helps control, and $25 is really nothing compared to losing a kidney.

[Dawn]

My last A1c was 6.9 which is too high and it was up from the 5.4 I had the year before (I didn't have insurance at the time...that is why the year gap). So, naturally, this concerns me so I thought if I could check it at home that would be helpful. The 6.9 makes no sense to me so I began testing more frequently and it still doesn't make sense. I can imagine it going up a little bit more over the 5.4 since I added some new foods over this time but one difference was that the last test was a finger test and the other was out of my arm and also different labs. So, all that rambling leading back to my original statement...I sure would like to be able to test at home :smile:

[ladytaz]

I'd love to be able to test my A1c at home too!! I just don't trust the mail in ones!!

[Alice]

I did the test at Osco Drugs (only about $20) and they do a prick, smear the blood on card...and mail in! I was very surprised...but have since learned that is another way to test and has it's own "range". Those cards are inserted into a glucose reader. The guy on ebay had those also.

The mail-in test came out lower than my Quest lab result (done same week, not same day)

[Lloyd]

I get mine done a a local hospital, results in 20 minutes, they draw blood not a finger prick. Almost no waiting.
$20 if you pay for it yourself rather than insurance.

-Lloyd

[duck]

I get mine done a a local hospital, results in 20 minutes, they draw blood not a finger prick. Almost no waiting.
$20 if you pay for it yourself rather than insurance.

-Lloyd

man, I would SO take advantage of that service. It is so much easier making "course corrections" every 30 days than every 90 days...

[Dawn]

Hi Lloyd - thanks for the tip. Do you need a doctor's order to do it? Do you just go to the lab? I sure would like to have that as an option here and I'll investigate it. Thanks again - Dawn

[Alice]

I would love to have the blood drawn "on my own" also...without the results going to the doctor automatically. I like to know where I'm at before going in for my 4x annual appointments. I hate being blind-sided by my own numbers. I now have Quest mail me a copy of the labs (allow at least one week) before my appointment. That way, I know what needs to be discussed withy my doctor. I've also caught her errors when she reads me an old lab...and I know for a fact I have a new lower number! That's happend a couple of times.

[Dawn]

Hi Alice - I'm glad you mentioned that. I think I will start getting a copy of the lab results too. I continue to think something was not right with my last lab results and I am going to get to the bottom of it...especially with all of these great tips!

[volleyball]

I get mine done a a local hospital, results in 20 minutes, they draw blood not a finger prick. Almost no waiting.
$20 if you pay for it yourself rather than insurance.

-Lloyd

How did you find out about this? Where do you go in the hospital? What do you ask for? An A1C test?

[Dawn]

Thanks to Lloyd's great advice I just called my hospital. They will do an A1c test in the outpatient lab with no appointment. I did need my doc to fax an order however. It was 53.00
(10.00 to draw and $43 for the test).

Dawn