[James Russel]

I've got a diabetic friend abroad, and he's not sure if his current glucose tester is the best one can find. Could you give me some opinions on which model is preferable? The cost of test strips, lancets, etc. is also important.

[pacon]

Here is a lot of info about different meters:

www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/d_0i_000.htm
www.mendosa.com/meters.htm

For the moment I use Freestyle Flash, due to its small size, and light function.

[dthogan]

Originally posted by James Russel
I've got a diabetic friend abroad, and he's not sure if his current glucose tester is the best one can find. Could you give me some opinions on which model is preferable? The cost of test strips, lancets, etc. is also important.

I started with an AccuCheck and then was given a FreeStyle from Therasense at a Diabetes Education Class. I really like the Freestyle as it takes very little blood. I also use the data cable to upload results to my pc.

My insurance pays for the strips and lancets but I saw at Publix and Walgreens they were giving away the smalller FreeStyle Flash version if you bought at least 50 test strips and they were around $45.00 for 50.

While I was travelling I forgot my meter and bought the CVS drug store brand that was very inexpensive and so were the strips around $20.00 for 50 and it also used very little blood. Walgreens and others have their own brand as well but they all seem to be made by a company called TruTrack out of Florida.

One of the things I like about the Therasense monitor is it uses a method of testing that is more like what the labs use. You can do an internet search and see what I am speaking of but I remember when I looked at it that it was complicated but explained the various meter testing methods and the advantages of each.

I do like using less blood as I can set the lancet to a less harder stick and given I test 4 to 5 times a day that matters to me.

Good Luck

[archimeech]

Up until last month I was using the FreeStyle Tracker. It's a glucometer that hooks up to a PDA(palm pilot). I found it very useful because of actually being attached to a micro-computer. It had a list of 2400 foods and their carb amounts, I didn't have to download anything to see my graphs, but then could easily download to my PC to print. It was a little pricey and the only glucometer I have ever bought. I don't know if you are in the US, James, but the glucometer companies will actually give you a free meter just to get you hooked on their stirps. Talk the the Diabetes Educator near you, they usually have a closet full of meters or can get one sent to you by a local rep. That is how I got all but my Tracker Glucometer. I jsut recently had to change because my insurance doesn't cover Therasense products and I simply called her up and got another glucometer from her. I now use the OneTouch Ultra-Smart from Lifescan. It's got some nice bells and whistles, including a back-lit Indiglo type screen. Actually a pretty nice meter. Just be straight forward with the Glucometer companies and get a hold of your local Sales-Rep. Tell them how many times a day you test(add about 2 more than you actually do so you look like a better customer) and ask them if they would be interested in your business. The meter is the "hook", the strips are where they make the money. They're like illegal drug pushers, that say "the first one is free, once they're hooked they keep coming back!"

[Funnygrl]

I have tried almost every meter on the market I think. To list: Original Blue Relion, Freestyle, Freestyle Flash, Accu-chek Active, BD Logic, Accu-chek Compact, OneTouch Ultra, OneTouch Ultrasmart, Ascensia Dex, Ascensea Elite XL, Ascensa Breeze, Ascensea Contour, and Precision Xtra. I basically just waited for it to be free when I wanted to try a new meter than did it.

The one I currently use is the Freestyle Flash. It is remarkably accurate, it has always been within 1 mg/dL of the lab. I also love the size, the small sample, and the lights. The other meters I like have been the Ultrasmart, Active, and Contour.