question about glucose meter

[Pink Lady]

Hello all,

I am a newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic. Currently, I am testing with a One Touch Ultra meter but are wasting many strips because I can't judge the amount of blood necessary for the channel.

Are there any meters out there that do not turn on until the blood fully fills the channel ? The meter turns on immediately with the One touch Ultra and I'm really getting lots of error messages. There is either too little blood or my fingertips begin to sweat and the blood smears quickly. :(

Any suggestions for a different product that doesn't turn on with the first bit of blood would be greatly appreciated :) Thanks !

[jillrapp]

I didn't like the One Touch for just that reason. I instead, use the Accu Check Aviva. It not only vacuums in your blood but gives you a longer time to add more, if you didn't get enough the first time. Good Luck!

[butterflykisses]

I HATE the Onetouch meters for just that reason!!! Can't tell you how many strips I waste because it starts counting down before the window fills. But I use them because the meter/remote with the Ping uses them. I really like the Aviva too. I rarely got errors with it...and I use the Multiclix lancet device that comes with it with whatever meter I'm using cause I LOVE it! Freestyle is good too, and I think it gives you a 60 seconds after it detects a partial sample before it will error. At least the one I have does, but it's not one of the newer no code meters. Freestyle also takes a tiny amount of blood.

[morrisma]

Abbott's Freestyle Lite is my meter of choice. VERY small sample size, I can use my forearm instead of fingers (I test 10x per day so this helps), and no coding of strips. I waste less than 1 strip in 50 with this meter.
Mike

[Doodle]

I use the Contour meter and have had only 1 error. That was the very first time I tested my sugar. I haven't had any problems with it since then and it gives you a reading in 5 seconds. I'm not familiar with the other meters, so I don't know how fast the others show a result.

[jer.lawrence]

I use the OneTouch Ultra as well and find that I make sure to get plenty of blood before touching the meter. I'll have to check into some of those others, I still haven't quite gotten this down yet. I've probably wasted 5 or 6 strips in the couple of weeks I've been using it.

[Pink Lady]

I would love to find a meter that doesn't begin to record until all the blood fills the chamber.

So far, from the answers given here, it seems such a meter does not exist. :confused:

I do think I'll look at the Freedom lite because that meter requires the tiniest amount of blood. I don't especially care about how fast it is......

Thanks to all those who took the time to respond :)

[butterflykisses]

I would love to find a meter that doesn't begin to record until all the blood fills the chamber.

So far, from the answers given here, it seems such a meter does not exist. :confused:

I do think I'll look at the Freedom lite because that meter requires the tiniest amount of blood. I don't especially care about how fast it is......

Thanks to all those who took the time to respond :)
The Freedom meters give you 60 seconds to get enough blood in. That should be enough time. :)

[ShottleBop]

I would love to find a meter that doesn't begin to record until all the blood fills the chamber.

So far, from the answers given here, it seems such a meter does not exist. :confused:

I do think I'll look at the Freedom lite because that meter requires the tiniest amount of blood. I don't especially care about how fast it is......

Thanks to all those who took the time to respond :)

Somebody posted in another thread that the Wavesense Presto did that.

[Morris "Type 1"]

I switch between 2 brand of test meter, the contour and an accu-chek one that has automatically feeds strips at click of a button..

Since the accu-chek requires a lot of blood to make it work, I find that I try to apply tons of blood to the contour and it doesn't need it - this has stopped me wasting test strips with the contour though.

The accu-chek is a pain when I haven't enough blood for it, I find it irritating to resolve; certainly glad that I don't need to replace the strip though and can just apply some more blood.

[jtausch]

The accue chek aviva only requires .06mml of blood one of the smallest of all the meters, I almost always get to much blood and have left over, Only about 3 or 4 times i did not get enough and had to use a new strip

[sarahspins]

Somebody posted in another thread that the Wavesense Presto did that.

Yep, it doesn't start the test until the strip is full. You can probably get a free meter from them to try if you call them up. I got a free one a few months ago, with 50 extra strips too.

[Granny Shanny]

This thread has been a mystery to me, because my goofy little Walmart ReliOn meter never turns on until the window is full. I had no idea others start prematurely! So if you get totally frustrated with 'em & tired of wasting strips - spend $10 & get the ReliOn. The strips are only $39 per 100 too, retail.

It beeps when the window gets full and starts the 5-second countdown from there.

[Pink Lady]

Wow ! Now I have some really great answers and even more better choices. That's just what I was looking for .....ReliOn or Wavesense Presto appears to be what I'm searching for.

We newbies need as much help from the PROs as we can get ;)

Thanks all :)

[jer.lawrence]

Ugh

It took me THREE STRIPS to get my FBG this morning. What a waste of money, yeah?

My FBG was 86 though, so at least I felt good about it after I finally got it. Stupid thing. :P

[nightrider]

I use the free Style Freedom meter 4x a day in two years one error message works great do not need a lot of blood,
I like it alot.

[Sherlock]

I used the accucheck compact (has strip drums) since January and then got the Infinity meter. You need a LOT of blood with the accucheck meters (I've also used the aviva and after being sent two replacements, all three read way too high).

The infinity is fantastic. The teeniest little drop of blood is enough. I've never had an error reading. I put the strip in the meter and don't push it all the way in until I have the blood drop. Reading is in 5 seconds flat and is always right on target.

The infinity is one of the most reliable meters I've ever used (and I've used about six different kinds besides the two accuchecks).

Infinity Blood Glucose Meter Plus 50 Strips - Hocks.com (http://hocks.com/hocks-healthcare/hocks-product/FM-23.html?utm_source=shopzilla&utm_medium=comparisonshopping&utm_term=FM-23)

Also you can get 100 test strips for less than $30. And because the blood drop is so small, there's never an error reading.