package from Lifescan/CWD

poodlebone · #1 (**permalink**) 11-10-2006, 08:20 PM

Today at work a co-worker told me that I got a package from UPS. I wasn't expecting anything and thought it was a mistake, and probably something for work. My name gets on packages sometimes. I finally noticed that it said Lifescan on it somewhere, so I opened it up. It was a whole kit from the Children With Diabetes web site. A backpack containing a blank quilt square, some fabric markers, booklets about pumping (Animas of course), a DVD ("I Have Diabetes Too" or something like that) and a coupon to fill out for a free UltraSmart or Ultra2.

I was excited to get the coupon, although sending the actual meter would have been better. I do have 2 UltraSmarts but both of them have problems where the screen blanks out after the 5 second countdown. Sometimes it takes several seconds for the display to come back up with the test result. The results seem fine, but I'm worried that one day both displays will fade out completely.

The backpack is nice, not really small/child sized at all. I had other stuff to bring home tonight so left it at work. I wanted to look at the Animas info, too.

I still have a long wait before I'm even eligible for a new pump but when the time comes I definitely want to check out Animas. Hopefully by then there will be an Ultra meter that communicates directly with the pump.

lgvincent · #2 (**permalink**) 11-10-2006, 09:55 PM

I have that very same problem with my UltraSmart meter.

Cyborg · #3 (**permalink**) 11-11-2006, 09:02 PM

My UltraSmarts have done the same thing occasionally, but always come right back with the result..

lilituc · #4 (**permalink**) 11-11-2006, 09:31 PM

Huh, my Ultrasmart does that, but only when the battery is low.

Keezheekoni · #5 (**permalink**) 11-12-2006, 04:02 AM

Yep, when the battery is low, that's what happens to my US. Try changing the battery and see if that helps. If not, call them up and ask for a replacement!

dgrilli · #6 (**permalink**) 11-12-2006, 03:44 PM

My Ultra Smart today did something really weird. When I put a strip in it it went to a reset mode and I had to input the time and day and re-code the meter.

I had to do this while feeling dizzy and not much coordination. I lived.

Anybody else had this happen?

poodlebone · #7 (**permalink**) 11-12-2006, 10:16 PM

My problem with the US has nothing to do with the battery. It's happened even after putting new Energizer batteries in. Sometimes the display just blinks on & off quickly, but other times it's stayed off for as long as 5 seconds. When it happened to my original meter I called Lifescan and they sent a replacement. I then promptly lost the replacement (or it was stolen while I was doing laundry) so I never sent my original one back. I then had to call Lifescan for something else and the guy informed me that I was ssupposed to send the faulty meter back to them. I explained that I lost the replacement and needed my original one, and he was really nasty. I was worried about the screen, so I bought another one from eBay but that does the same thing.

When I get this freebie from Lifescan I'll have 3 UltraSmarts, and can leave one at work. I think I brought in the U2 to leave there, but I prefer the US since I'm bad about keeping track of my carbs/insulin on paper sometimes. The pump holds most of that info, but won't retain carb info unless I've bolused for them. So, I prefer keeping everything in the meter.

Oh, and my meters reset themselves sometimes. I just have to fix the date/time but all of my other settings are retained.

JasonJayhawk · #8 (**permalink**) 11-13-2006, 07:42 PM

You received that package for signing up on the CWD website. Originally, the site owner was not going to send out the items because the link was shared on the freebie message boards, where people who don't even know how to spell diabetes were signing up just to get the items for the sake of just being free (mainly for the backpack or to sell stuff on eBay).

Then, that decision was halfway reversed -- they looked at the survey answers, and if you showed any sign of really having a child with diabetes, they sent the package out.

The kit was really intended for parents that just had a recently diagnosed child with diabetes.

pbmax · #9 (**permalink**) 11-15-2006, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgrilli

My Ultra Smart today did something really weird. When I put a strip in it it went to a reset mode and I had to input the time and day and re-code the meter.

I had to do this while feeling dizzy and not much coordination. I lived.

Anybody else had this happen?

I have this and the other depending on its mood, if ,like others mentioned, the batterie are low.

beezle · #10 (**permalink**) 11-15-2006, 10:39 PM

My ultra smart has never behaved that way.