HbA1c machine recommendations plse

[Willow]

Hi

Which of the HbA1c machines would you recommend?

Ta

[duck]

I've used ChoiceDM's A1c at Home kit. It's a little funky at first (like most of them), but read the directions and make sure you understand, lay all the stuff out in front of you and then do it. It takes all of two minutes to set up and about eight for the results. There's a good chart online comparing all the tests, I have it bookmarked at home I think...I'll look it up tonight.

http://choicedm.com/choicedm/channels/content.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&channelName=Left_Navigation%2f10%40Products%2f10%4 0A1c_General

[koblenz]

There is also a good article and comparison chart in this months issue of "Diabetes Health" magazine (March 2004 issue).

[BeckieLynn55]

Sorry.. this may be a little :topic:

Wow, this is new to me! Home a1c tests!? Are they expensive? And if you dont mind me asking, what is the point? Doesnt your doctor require that you get the blood work done at a hospital? Since I go every 10 weeks, all of my a1c results are covered... I believe?

[rzrbks]

BeckieLynn55 Sorry.. this may be a little :topic:

Wow, this is new to me! Home a1c tests!? Are they expensive? And if you dont mind me asking, what is the point? Doesnt your doctor require that you get the blood work done at a hospital? Since I go every 10 weeks, all of my a1c results are covered... I believe?

Like everything else about the "Wonderful Diabetes Club," each of us has ways of management that work best for us and, for some people, doing A1c is something that helps them focus and be more successful in controling and dealing with their diabetes.

Like you, BeckieLynn55 , that's too much for me personally, but for those who feel that it helps, I say,

GO FOR IT!! :)

[soremom]

Beckie, the are under $20. I know our local Wal Mart has them. Actually about $18.54. Not sure if what area you are in makes a difference. I have friends in Allison Park and there usually isn't much of a difference from up here.

Kim

[camjen1]

Beckie,

This to me would cause less nervousness if I knew my result before my Dr so I can prepare for the harsh lesson to follow or the welcomed congrats. My Walgreens has one for I believe arounf $19.00 and I am thinking about purchasing fairly soon.

~Sandi

[duck]

I started doing these when the last time I was in the Endo's office, they wouldn't do my A1c because they weren't sure it would be covered. I told them it would, and even if it wasn't, I'd pay. They said they had a policy against that. Huh?

So I knew about these things, and I bought one. That was about one year ago.

About October I started frequenting this site again, and I read a couple places where people said A1c was weighted toward your last month, so I considered doing it monthly. My first A1c in November was 7.7, and that freaked me out, I've since made it down to 6.1...I could NOT have done that without monthly testing, IMHO.

Even if these things are 100% accurate, they give you some guidance. And the Home A1c is certified by the same group that certifies the doctor's office's A1c testers, so I'm comfortable with what I am doing. I will definitely take a Home A1c reading when I go back to the endo to compare with them, though...

[Willow]

Cheers me dears :o)

[soremom]

I am due to have my blood work done a week from Friday. I am also going to buy one of the tests to see the difference in tests results. Will let you know next month when I go for my test results.

Kim

[Willow]

Thanks Kim :)