[notme]

I had to call Abbott today again because the new meter they sent me doesn't work. Great. The meter displayed every icon it has in it on the screen and it would not go away. It would flash from one nonsensical screen to another with half numbers and battery and blood drop icons. Maybe that is why they call it the Flash.

Here is what I found out. The representative today told me that the Flash is considered to be innaccurate. That is why it was discontinued. I guess it is time to think about using something besides the Flash meters. BUT........ The Freestyle Freedom does work with the Flash Strips. So...if you have a Flash meter you can trade it in for a Freedom.

They gave me to option of the Freestyle Freedom or the Freestyle Lite. The rep told me that the Lite is an upgrade, but the Freedom is not. They can give you up to 500 test strips to replace the ones you have for your Flash if you choose the Lite and they don't want you to send the strips you have back to them. She told me to donate them. I chose the Lite because of the data port. The Freedom doesn't have one as far as I could tell. I am determined to catch up with the times and start logging my results on my computer. They are sending me a new Lite meter and 500 strips.

A member here sent me a Flash meter and I will use some of my stock of strips with that meter. Eventually, I will move over to the Lite meter. Not sure if I will continue with it, I guess time will tell.

So folks, it is time to think about moving on if you own a Flash. I also think that strips for the Flash meter will be around for quite awhile since they can be used in the Freedom.

[morrisma]

Nancy,
Thanks for the legwork on this. I guess I'll trade in my couple of Flash meters for Freedoms. I also have a free Lite coming by mail. Fun stuff.

[Mich]

Just as a note (I guess we are an inquisitive bunch) I was also on the phone to Abbot this morning. I asked what type of meter my Cozmonitor was, a Flash or a Freedom. The rep said Cozmonitor was one of their newest meters. I assume that meant it was a Freedom. She really talked around my question, maybe the answer wasn't on her script.

I asked about the future discontinuing of the strips that fit both the Cozmonitor and the Freedom. She said they would not discontinue that type of strips until there were no more meters in use that needed them.

They are sending me a freedom meter and I need to send my Flash back to them in the enclosed envelope.

[Funnygrl]

Wow, this makes no sense.

First off, the Freedom and the Flash use the same technology, and the same strips. So one shouldn't be more accurate than another, however, anecdotally my Flash was way more accurate than my Freedom. Many people consider the Flash the most accurate meter on the market. The Cozmonitor is based on the Flash. The Freedom wasn't out yet when the Cozmonitor was out. The only difference between the flash and freedom is size and light. I'd be willing to say that the rep you spoke with didn't know what they were talking about.

The new meters are the plain old Lite (like the Flash) and the Freedom Lite (like the Freedom). These are similar to the old meters, except no coding and an extended memory.

My guess is they discontinued the other meters just cause no company NEEDS 5 meters on the market. It's a waste of resources to manufactor that many different kinds. Maybe the rep meant the Lites are more accurate because they don't need to be coded, ie, less human error?

[notme]

The rep I spoke to said specifically that the Flash was not accurate and she highly recommended that I change to either the Freedom or the Lite. She went on to say that the reason they were no longer using the Flash was because of an accuracy issue and they no longer have Flashes available once the warehouse stock was exhausted. She told me they were only using the Flash stock now as replacements now for people who had a lot of stips left and a non working meter. I can't guess or not whether she knew what she was talking about. She did say that the Lite was considered an upgrade where the Freedom was just a replacement meter for my now non functioning Flash.

[someone]

From what I can tell, the Lite series meters are more accurate than the flash. I was never convinced that the flash's results were accurate, but I feel very comfortable with the results I get from the Lite. Also, whenever I use the same blood sample on the Freedom Lite and Lite, they give results within 5 mg/dl of each other. I like the Lite better, but I can't say one is any more accurate than the other.

The only reason I have the Freedom is because I "upgraded" one of my Flash meters and asked for a Lite... I must not have been clear enough since I got a Freedom Lite the next day. The Freedom does have a data port on top, it just doesn't have a lit up strip port. I also bought 2 Lite meters from my local Walgreens. They were $30 with a $40 mail in rebate.

[notme]

Originally Posted by someone

The Freedom does have a data port on top, it just doesn't have a lit up strip port.

That is good to know. I looked everywhere on the website and couldn't find any information about a data port.

Thanks!

[Glucoweb]

I still cannot see them discontinuing the Flash style strips, since the CozMonitor (which is based on flash technology and requires coding) is still being supplied by Smiths Medical to their Cozmo pump users. I would imagine some form of binding contract is in place between the two companies. I have always felt very comfortable with the test results from my Flash, and consider it to be the most accurate meter I have owned.

[notme]

I don't think the strips are going away either. To many people moving over to the Freedom or using the CozMonitor.