UltraSmart?

Tricia452008 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-30-2006, 01:04 PM

I currently have the Freestyle Flash for the past 2 years and i am looking into getting a new meter....Does anyone have the Ultrasmart? do you reccomend it? or is there any other blood tester that anyone would reccomend?

camjen1 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-30-2006, 01:08 PM

I for one don't like it but I know alot of people that do. I had a hard time filling the strip with blood and when I did it always read error. I went through about 15 strips just to get one reading.

trekbear · #3 (**permalink**) 10-30-2006, 02:24 PM

Hello,

I love my Ultrasmart. Even though I am a Type 2 and just recently diagnosed (Aug 28, 2006), I have used several different meters from Lifescan (UltraSmart, Ultra2, and the Mini), Abbott Freestyle Flash, Bayer Contour. I must say I love the Ultrasmart. I have the datacable for it too. I entered all of my data for appointments and whenever I have a high number I can document food eaten and health issues... stress, feeling hypo etc.. I can tag it and type notes in manually as well. There are just sooo many benefits for this unit vs. the others. The only caveat if there is one is the 1ml (microliter) it's the largest requirement of the current meters out there. I don't have an issue filling the strip at all and my Sister in law has the same meter and she too has no problems filling the strip. But, to each his own.

For all the bells and whistles... THIS METER ROCKS!

JediSkipdogg · #4 (**permalink**) 10-30-2006, 02:28 PM

I have used the Ultrasmart since it came out. I have been a Lifescan user for about the past 10 years and have had no problems with any of their meters. They have always been very reliable and accurate to what I'm feeling. They also have some of the best features on a meter in terms of what info you can program in them and nothing outdoes the amount of info you can put in the UltraSmart.

It does take more blood than the flash, but personally, not alot still. I don't have a problem getting the blood and only waste about 1 out of 200 strips with an error, which is good compared to other meters I've used. I love my Ultrasmart and wouldn't give it up for anything. Well, maybe an UltraSmart 2 if they ever made one.

lgvincent · #5 (**permalink**) 10-30-2006, 03:27 PM

I have an UltraSmart but I'm not happy with the accuracy of it when comparing to lab results so far. I get a lot of errors, too and I really hate that because the strips are pretty expensive.

BriOnH · #6 (**permalink**) 10-30-2006, 03:33 PM

The flash uses significantly less blood and the size is great. The US has great logging functionality and store a ton of records.

Funnygrl · #7 (**permalink**) 10-30-2006, 04:34 PM

I prefer my flash to the ultrasmart for the smaller size, smaller blood drop, and strip light.

spike · #8 (**permalink**) 10-30-2006, 05:20 PM

I have lots of LifeScan meters and I trust them with my life. I use the UltraSmart, Mini, ULtra, Ultra 2. they all give similar readings (they all use the same strips). I've tried many brands, but the US series are my "go to " meters. I doubt you would be disappointed with the US.

kgm0612 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 07:43 AM

I started out with the One Touch Ultra, then a year later switched to the UltraSmart. Last December when I started pumping, I began using the BD meter that came with my pump. I am finishing up the strips that I have left and then I'm switching over to the Ultra 2 that I received free from LifeScan.

Although the Ultra meters use more blood, I've always found them to be accurate. I wish they'd make them a little smaller though. I'm thinking about picking up the Mini to carry with me in my purse.

Karen

spike · #10 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgm0612

I started out with the One Touch Ultra, then a year later switched to the UltraSmart. Last December when I started pumping, I began using the BD meter that came with my pump. I am finishing up the strips that I have left and then I'm switching over to the Ultra 2 that I received free from LifeScan.

Although the Ultra meters use more blood, I've always found them to be accurate. I wish they'd make them a little smaller though. I'm thinking about picking up the Mini to carry with me in my purse.

Karen

Karen, I don't carry a purse

but the Mini fits well in a pocket. My only complaint is that I've had 3 of them that have all torn many of the strips upon insertion. My US, Ultras, and Ultra2 don't do that.

Cyborg · #11 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tricia452008

I currently have the Freestyle Flash for the past 2 years and i am looking into getting a new meter....Does anyone have the Ultrasmart? do you reccomend it? or is there any other blood tester that anyone would reccomend?

I've used the UltraSmart for a couple years now and I highly recommend it...

Dewey · #12 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 10:04 AM

Personally, Tricia (from my standpoint), it's a hard call to make. Both are great meters, in my book.

On the Freestyle Flash, I love the strip light, as it makes it alot easier to see when applying a sample in the dark. Though that issue is easily remedied on the UltraSmart with a mini flashlight (or "ring light" even), the Flash really was ahead of the game with that idea. I also like the fact that the meter waits until enough blood is applied before countdown begins.

That said, the downfall is lack of memory, software issues (not sure if they've released an update as of yet, but they recalled the other) & a small font (an issue for those who may have vision problems).

The UltraSmart does indeed have many bells & whistles as other posters mentioned. Additionally, I like their software the best, as I've been using it for years now (since '96) without problems. It also has the highest test memory of all currently available meters (at approx. 3000 tests or so).

Whether you change to the UltraSmart or stay with the Flash, you'll likely be pleased. Good luck on your ultimate decision, and please let us know how you like the UltraSmart if you choose it.

lilituc · #13 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 01:18 PM

I have an Ultrasmart and I love it. I also use it as a logbook and download the information. I have gotten errors, but I'd say less than 1 in 100.

As far as that goes, it's probably not a meter for someone with shaky hands, and it does require a little more blood than it says. I find that if I see any yellow after it's sucked in the blood (meaning it didn't fill the entire area), the reading will either say "error" or it will be inaccurate. So I will just pull the strip out if I see yellow and it's counting down, heh. Since I rely on the downloaded information I don't like to have an inaccurate reading in there. But like I said, this doesn't happen very often - only if I'm not paying attention and the sample turned into a smear instead of a drop.

Most importantly though, I've used the US when I get my blood drawn and it's always been within 1-5 points of the lab test. I know it can vary more when the reading is above 360, but I can live with that for accurate results.

gelchick · #14 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 03:24 PM

I have both and I like the UltraSmart better because I can easily track information that I can print out and take to my health care team. The software for the Flash crashed my computer, but I like the size of it and take it with me when I'm on the road. One thing though, the readout on the Flash is awfully small and I can't see it without my glasses- in the light or dark-lol. sandy

rzrbks · #15 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Tricia452008

I currently have the Freestyle Flash for the past 2 years and i am looking into getting a new meter....Does anyone have the Ultrasmart? do you reccomend it? or is there any other blood tester that anyone would reccomend?

If what you have is working well, why change? or as people say in the Land of rzrbks,

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."