[Wife]

When my husband meets with the doctor next week (newly diagnosed, doing tests and meeting with dietitian this week) he will be given a script for a monitor. Not knowing anything about these, I am hoping for preferences.

So, what do you use? What is the "Holy Grail" of monitors? We are gadget geeks, so would quite like bells and whistles if they have 'em.

How long should a monitor last? What supplies do you need for the brand you use?

Are there specific ones to from which to stay away?

Thank you, all, for your input and opinions!!

[spike]

Any Ultra by LifeScan. Ultra, Ultra2, UltraSmart, Ultra Mini. the market leaders and very accurate. accept no imitations!
You are going to be inundated with different opinions...

[poodlebone]

If you are a gadget geek then you will definitely want the UltraSmart. It does the most, way more than any other meter. You not only get your BG results but you can add meal tags to them, exercise & health tags to individual readings. You can enter meal info such as carbs, protein & fat. You can enter exercise minutes and intensity. It will store other test results such as A1c and cholesterol.

I love my UltraSmart and currently there is no other meter that I'm aware of that will allow me to even add insulin & carbs numbers to a test result. I'm Type 1, and really like to keep track of that. With the UltraSmart you can also set it up for two oral meds if you're a Type 2.

[corwin]

I'm using freestyle and it gets the job done. I'm thinking of getting the freestyle flash becaue it's smaller so it's easier to carry around. I also like the "test in the dark" option. Some people like all the high tech features, for me as long as it's small enough to fit in my pocket and it gives me the number I'm looking for, I'm happy. It's a matter of preference, since you like the bells and whistles maybe the UltraSmart will fit your style better.

[Stuboy]

i have and really like the ultrasmart. It can log your carbs, protein, fat and calories, your medications, excersise and health status, as well as flag your readings as either before/after breakfast/lunch/dinner or night readings, or not flag them at all!
It also gives you tons of averages of readings, and even displays a plotted graph of your results. I find the case is good too. i carry everything i need in my ultrasmart case! including an extra pot for used strips, glucogel, spare needles, AST tip and calibration fluid!!

Oh yeh, the ultrasmart's screen also lights up so testing int he dark isn't a problem!

I have used the Ultra, that's ok but it's very very basic.

[LI_Beach_Girl]

[size="4"]Personally I wouldn't wait for the script. You can get free meters by mail now. You can get a free ascencia contour or breeze from this site: http://www.bayercarediabetes.com/pro...tour/index.asp I received mine in less than a week. there is also the One touch which you may qualify for at this site: https://www.lifescan.com/products/simplestart/. I wish I had known about this when I was first diagnosed. I would also check and see what your insurance will cover. Some meters are prefered by some insurance companies, and they may only cover certain brands of strips.

[JediSkipdogg]

Beach brought up the right idea. If you get a script, that means you are most likely going to have to pay for the meter. Secondly, meters don't need scripts at all. Only if you want insurance to pay any part do you, and well, like Beach brought up, they are either free or so darn cheap it's just pocket change. I know alot of meters have mail in rebates with them.

The first thing you need to find out though is which brand is preferred by your insurance company. Strips are a prescription item and different brands fall into different levels with different insurance companies. For me, Lifescan is a Tier 2 and the Freestyle is a Tier 3, so I'd have to pay twice as much a month for Freestyle. That's something to consider. After you have that down, you should be able to call the companies and get a free meter. Lifescan may be a tad harder to do, but just ask for the local sales rep number and he'll/she'll send you one for free.

Good luck.

[Cyborg]

I prefer the UltraSmart.

[Dewey]

For bells & whistles, I'd definitely opt for the UltraSmart, by Lifescan.

If you're looking for ease of use & (as someone else mentioned) the ability to test in the dark, then Freestyle Flash is a great meter.

I have & love them both. Each has great features, but if you're a gadget person, then UltraSmart is probably the best option.

[arath13]

Flash for it size and Freedom if your eyes are not the best.

VERY ACCURATE! Plus, you can get free software and cable from the company!



OUT!

[seacomp]

To clarify, while the testing strips do not need a prescription, you want to get a prescription for them (at a good testing rate, at least 4 per day) so that you can get ome insurance coverage.

[gettingby]

I'm a Lifescan gal. I have the Ultra and the UltraSmart. I love the Ultra line.
Just my opinion. Do your homework and visit the monitor websites.
You can do a web search for glucose monitors and get the websites.

[lgvincent]

I like the AccuChek Advantage and the Freestyle Flash.

[dgrilli]

I have Seven different meters. My tried and true for years One Touch UltraSmart I have 2 of These. One came with my Animas 1250 Pump.

I have just purchased an UltraSmart Mini. Although the reading differ by allot between these as the BG rises the more off they are from each other.

I got a MediSense Precision Xtra This one will check Blood Ketone's as well as BG's. This one is nice. I got this free from the Company Rep. I actually like this meter I got a script for Ketone Test Strips for this one and watch my Ketone's rise as my BG' rises so it seems.

I got a FreeStyle Flash from a rep and it is nice. This is a Nice Meter.

I received a Ascensia Breeze and a Contour from the Bayer Rep going to Local Awareness classes at the Hospital. These are OK but just so so.

I have loaded them all and took my reading from one sample to see how they would line up all with 15 but the Mini seems to read higher than the rest.

I have know Idea why I collected all these meters. I used to have an Accucheck years ago that required this awful big sample and a One Touch was way better than that dinosaur. The Breeze requires a big sample.

Out of all would rate One Touch UltraSmart the best then the Precision Xtra next. The Mini is more in line when the BG is closer to normal.

Anybody else have a collection of meters?

[BriOnH]

Freestyle Flash Requires a noticably smaller size blood sample too.