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View Full Version : UltraLink...Blood-Sucking Vampire?!?

duck
10-14-2009, 05:52 PM
Okay, after a year or so I finally switched from the BD / NovaMax combo for my 722 CGMS to the OneTouch UltraLink...and is it just me, or does this ****ed thing require seven times more blood than the BD?

I mean, with the BD, I had my lancet device set on 1 (lowest) and RARELY did I ever not get enough blood. Yesterday, it took me SEVEN tries with the UltraLink to get a good first reading. Yes, I was 1 for 7 in my first attempts to get a good reading for my 722. And when I finally got a good amount of blood, ten minutes later I was STILL applying pressure to this gusher of a bleeder I created in order to get a good reading. WTF, am I the only one having this issue?

Today I have had three misfires already. :mad:

Anyone else having this issue? Any suggestions?

If there is already another thread devoted to this, someone point me in the right direction. I am about to put all my OneTouch strips on eBay and scrounge up what few Paradigm Link monitors might exist out there...
butterflykisses
10-14-2009, 06:05 PM
I don't use the Ultralink, I have the OneTouch Ping that uses OneTouch Ultra strips and they are blood hogs! I have to say that recently they changed the strips a bit and they do seem to be much better, take less blood and are faster to suck up the blood. If you already got your hands on the new ones then it's as good as its going to get. The new strips are blue. I remembered why I stopped using OneTouch when I got my Ping! But the new ones do seem to be better and i'm much happier.
jer.lawrence
10-14-2009, 06:53 PM
The OneTouch Ultra (2 and mini) is the only meter I've ever used and it does take a few tries sometimes. It should be called the ThreeToSevenTouch.
duck
10-14-2009, 07:05 PM
The OneTouch Ultra (2 and mini) is the only meter I've ever used and it does take a few tries sometimes. It should be called the ThreeToSevenTouch.

I laughed............
Funnygrl
10-14-2009, 07:20 PM
The Ultralink is a hideous meter. I'm actually offended Medtronic dared to release that POS. Do they really care that little about their customers?

Novamax took 0.3 ul. Ultralink takes 1 ul. So only 3-4x as much blood, not quite seven.

The problem isn't just how much blood it takes, but that it starts the countdown as soon as it sense any blood. Even if you have enough blood on your finger you still may get the dreaded E-5 if it doesn't suck it in well.
Funnygrl
10-14-2009, 07:20 PM
And by the way, good to see you again Duck.
It Ain't Over
10-14-2009, 09:13 PM
Major disappointment when Minimed went away from the BD system. I guess that happens when a company abandons them.
xMenace
10-14-2009, 09:18 PM
Major disappointment when Minimed went away from the BD system. I guess that happens when a company abandons them.

Don't the Novamax's still work with the Minimeds? I still use my BD. I also have the Contour Link. It requires 0.6ul which I find too much. I'm hoping Novamax gets approved up here soon.
JJM335
10-15-2009, 05:06 AM
The Ultralink is a hideous meter. I'm actually offended Medtronic dared to release that POS. Do they really care that little about their customers?

Novamax took 0.3 ul. Ultralink takes 1 ul. So only 3-4x as much blood, not quite seven.


From what I can see, the Ultralink is about the size of a 1990 mobile phone. Medtronic realized that the Europeans wouldn't put up with something that size. Over here the link meter is the Bayer Contour.

Joel
kgm0612
10-15-2009, 08:23 AM
Although the UltraLink is a little larger in size than I would have expected, it still takes the same test strips as all the other One Touch meters.

I very rarely have a problem getting enough blood and I only change my lancet once every 2 weeks. I have mine set at #2.

The other thing I have found is that it is quite accurate. Every time I go to my endo appointment, the lab there does a blood draw. I immediately test my BS using my UltraLink and compare it to the reading the lab took. Every single time my meter has been one or 2 points off. Last week the lab's reading was 67 and my meter said 65.

Karen
palefacegirl03
10-15-2009, 08:57 AM
I dont think a vampire needs as much blood as it sometimes take with the One Touch,LOL
duck
10-15-2009, 04:17 PM
And by the way, good to see you again Duck.

I'm not quite gone, just buried in Master's coursework and dealing with a very pregnant wife...Oh, and lately I started bleeding more, like I needed that. :D But yeah, I've missed you guys.
gettingby
10-15-2009, 07:40 PM
Duck, I am so happy to see you back with us, even if for only a little while. Congrats on the new little duck that is growing.:D

Oh yeah, my endo has said it is time to look into a new pump. Not sure if I want to trade this one in. Has sentimental value. I'm sure you know what I mean.:)
duck
10-15-2009, 08:03 PM
Duck, I am so happy to see you back with us, even if for only a little while. Congrats on the new little duck that is growing.:D

Oh yeah, my endo has said it is time to look into a new pump. Not sure if I want to trade this one in. Has sentimental value. I'm sure you know what I mean.:)

If you can afford to keep that pump, keep it. I wish I had kept my 508--I just grew accustomed to it, and now that it is gone, I find myself longing for it nearly six years after I sent mine back. (so if anyone out there has a functioning 508 they want to part with...HINT)

There are a bunch of good pumps out there. None are perfect for everyone, but perfect enough for most. :D
mortis505
10-15-2009, 09:03 PM
Good to see you again Duck.

I didn't like the lancing device with the ultralink. Had to set that sucker deep just to get enough to test. Rikki got me a SoftClicks Plus at last years Expo. Works like a charm.
palefacegirl03
10-16-2009, 12:05 PM
Duck, I have two of the BD links that still work and 2 of the Novamax Links, if you want any of them just let me know.
palefacegirl03
10-16-2009, 12:06 PM
Good to see you again Duck.

I didn't like the lancing device with the ultralink. Had to set that sucker deep just to get enough to test. Rikki got me a SoftClicks Plus at last years Expo. Works like a charm.


I have a few boxes of the Softclix lancets if you need any, some one set them to me and I use the multiclix, so I have no use for them.
duck
10-16-2009, 05:34 PM
Duck, I have two of the BD links that still work and 2 of the Novamax Links, if you want any of them just let me know.

PM sent! (as I sit here bleeding from another failed attempt to get enough blood for my Ultralink!)
mortis505
10-17-2009, 02:21 AM
I have a few boxes of the Softclix lancets if you need any, some one set them to me and I use the multiclix, so I have no use for them.

Thanks, but I get Gobs from the V.A. Although I'm sure someone else might be able to use them.