Help with Monitoring Devices

dadras · #1 (**permalink**) 07-21-2008, 10:06 AM

I need to monitor my blood sugar & want to buy a monitoring device. I am a very sensitive person & also not comfortable to see blood. I want to get a device which induces the least pain. I have been to the CVS pharmacy web site & looked at the description of a few monitors. These are my findings:

Freestyle Freedom Lite: World’s smallest sample size

One Touch Ultra Smart: Uses just a speck of blood. Less painful testing. Option to test on forearm or finger. Adjust UltraSoft sampler to individual needs to reduce pain.

Ascensia Contour: Fast test results. Less Pain- Lancing device included for fingertips, palm, or forearm

Accu-Chek Aviva: test from finger, palm, & more. Tiny blood drop

Which one of these or any other devices would you recommend? I’d appreciate your input. I live in Southern California.

Thanks

princesslinda · #2 (**permalink**) 07-21-2008, 11:03 AM

I use the One-Touch, both the Ultra-II and the mini. I also have the Freestyle and the Aviva...anytime I can get a free monitor, I do

As for being sensitive, in time you really don't pay that much attention to it...and none of them should make you see a lot of blood.

When sticking, make sure to stick the sides of your fingers rather than the fleshy pads, as it hurts less. Also, experiement with testing on your forearm, as its less sensitive, but if you get an "off" reading, high or low, follow up with a finger stick, as the finger stick is felt to be the most accurate.

Scrabblechick · #3 (**permalink**) 07-21-2008, 12:51 PM

I use the Aviva and it really doesn't take that much blood. Believe it or not, it's all really in the lancing device. The Multiclix comes with the Aviva and it is truly almost painless. You also don't have to handle lancets. They come in a little cartridge. It's a pricey little devil, though, if you buy it separately.

The Aviva has worked well for me. I rarely get an error with it. I'm going to take it with me to my next labwork appt. so I can test it against the lab result.

Many people on these forums use the Freestyle meters and really like them.

As Linda mentioned about free meters, ask your doc and see if he/she has a freebie.

-sammy- · #4 (**permalink**) 07-21-2008, 01:28 PM

i live in the UK and use optium plus xxceed glucose monitor. quite good i like it but the only thing i dont like i it doesnt exactly tell me what my readings are if there too high (over 27) or too low (below 1).

patricia52 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-21-2008, 01:36 PM

I use the one touch but I prefer the Accu Check Aviva. The strips fill easier for me and the lancing device is so nice. I use the one touch because it is hard for me to get strips for the AccuChek at the pharmacy I use. We live in a small town and the pharmacy I use just does not keep enough AccuChec strips in stock.

xMenace · #6 (**permalink**) 07-21-2008, 01:40 PM

The FreeStyles need half the blood of the other ones you list. Error-wise it's also very liberal. This means few if any repeats are needed. For a blood-quesy person, this is my choice.

If features is what you want, go with the UltraSmart. Most are very satisfied with them.

If coding bothers you, go with the Contour, but beware the high error rate.

The Aviva is a great all around monitor. It's 2nd best error-wise.

jillrapp · #7 (**permalink**) 07-21-2008, 01:47 PM

I use the Aviva as well. I love the lancet drum - and it's the most painless lancet device I've used. I've also had good experience with the Aviva being accurate the first time each time.

UpNorth · #8 (**permalink**) 07-21-2008, 02:49 PM

I'm using the Aviva and loving it! Just got myself a new one the other day because my first Aviva has been in use for quite some time

It only needs a very small drop of blood, and the strips fill easily, i haven't had many errors with it. And the Multiclix lancing device is the best pricker i've used, does take a while to get used to the lancet coming out on the side of the bottom instead of in the middle, but yeah, it's great, and no handling lancets!
But if you want to be able to use even smaller blood drops, go with the Freestyle Lite and maybe use it either with Accu-Chek Softclix or Multiclix prickers as they're said to be the least painful

Brettt333 · #9 (**permalink**) 07-21-2008, 04:19 PM

I use freestyle on my Cozmore pump. I used my forearm with next to no feeling. I got the Dexcom CGM and needed more accurate calibration results so I use the fingers again. The Freestyle really helped me get into full time testing because I did not have to use the sensative fingers.

babySlon · #10 (**permalink**) 07-21-2008, 04:22 PM

Whichever glucometer you gonna buy - go to your pharmacy and ask for BD Lancing device and 33g lancets - thinnest in the world

poppa · #11 (**permalink**) 07-21-2008, 04:25 PM

You'll have to pry my Freestyle Lite from my cold dead fingers!

IMHO The Freestyle Lite is the best meter. However, I use the milticlix lancing device which is (again IMHO) the least painful.

Fell free to mix and match meters and lancing devices!

dbdb · #12 (**permalink**) 07-25-2008, 09:06 PM

Ascensia MICROLET VACULANCE
is the best lancing device for me. It has some suction, so the actual poke is smaller than any others I've tried.

SPLODGE · #13 (**permalink**) 07-26-2008, 12:26 AM

Hi,

A little bit off subject here but I evidently didn't do enough research when i chose my meter.

I picked the one used by my local health authority as it is the easiest way to get strips. I didn't know there were such big margins of error.

After reading the last few posts I did some checks on my Contour and got the following results

Middle finger test 1 = 7.9 mmol / 142 mg/dl
Middle finger same blood test 2 = 6.9 mmol / 124 mg/dl

Ring finger test 1 = 7.5 mmol / 135 mg/dl
Ring finger same blood test 2 = 7.0 mmol / 126 mg/dl

This within the +/- 15% but I didn't realise this happened.

I will watch these posts to see if there is a more accurate meter out there that we can get strips for in the UK.

Kate