Don't Pay for a Glucometer unless you really want to(Not a Solicitation just FYI)

[archimeech]

I'm reposting this. I think it's too important to let go.
meech


Don't Pay for a Gucometer unless you really want to(Not a Solicitation just FYI)
This is not a solicitation! Just my wanting to give everyone some information. I wanted to post this as a thread of it's own. If you're in the US, sorry all in the UK and elsewhere, but I don't know if it works this way for you; you can get just about any glucometer at no charge to you. I have been diabetic for 20 years, in that time I have paid for only 1 meter, and that was because I really wanted it. The drug companies that make the meters and strips are like the cellular phone companies. they offer you a really good deal, if not free, on your phone or in our case the glucometer so that they can make tons of money on the service contract and strips. A meter is a one time purchase but those strips every month really make a ton of money for the companies. If you deal with a Diabetes Educator, and all of you should, then they will either have a good supply of brand new meters in a closet somewhere or they will be able to get you one at no charge from the local sales rep. My educator had so many at one time that she was giving 2 to every person. She needed to clean out the closet and just told us to use the other as a back-up or at work or whatever! I did pay for one, the Therasense FreeStyle Tracker. it is the meter that plugs into a PDA and I loved it. It was easy to use, easy to download, all ready hooked to the PDA (Handspring Visor) After the coupons and rebates that the Sales Rep from Therasense gave me, I wound up paying just the price for the PDA. So for all intense and purposes, it was free to me as well. I changed jobs and my new insurance doesn't cover the Therasense strips so I had to change glucometers. I simply called up my diabetes educator and asked for her opinion on a new one and if she had any available. She suggested the Lifescan One-touch Ultra Smart. The closest thing to a PDA type glucometer. She said to come by and she would leave one at the desk for me. At the same time I asked for another meter, just the One-touch Ultra for a coworker of mine. He is the son of 2 diabetics and checks his sugar every now and then just to watch it. She gave me one for him also. I then went online and downloaded their software for free. The computer cable didn't come with the meter so I called the Educator again and asked her for the reps name, got a hold of her and she mailed me the cable for free. If I would have bought it all off of the website from the manufacturer, it would have cost me at least $160.00 US! My prescription for strips is 300 for a 30 days supply, I think they make enough money off of me and my insurance company. If you don't go to an educator, call up the companies. Tell them your story and see what kind of meter they are willing to send you. We diabetics spend enough money, don't pay for a meter if you don't have to.


Last edited by archimeech on 10-08-2004 at 01:15 PM

[jared]

i agree. dont let this topic die. i dont remember who showed us but i recieved my BD meter yesturday. i like it....

[Eri's mom]

I think we've only paid for one meter...actually, it wasn't even the meter, it was the strips....got a free meter w/ it.

My mom has called accu-chek, and we've actually been sent free meters.

[Dewey]

Originally posted by jared
i agree. dont let this topic die. i dont remember who showed us but i recieved my BD meter yesturday. i like it....

Still waiting on mine, Jared...how long did it take to get to you?
Meech, this is definitely a great topic and extremely helpful to those interested in a monitor, or new to Diabetes (and testing). All too often, people are unaware, and wind up spending unnecessarily.

[Shalyndria]

Hey guys.

Rather than reposting threads, if it's already been posted give it a bump. All you have to do is reply in the original thread, and it will bump it up to new postings as well as to the top of the forum it's in. We'd rather see you do that than repeat posting (which is not allowed, but I'm turning a blind eye in this case).

Shy

[Funnygrl]

I mentioned the free BD Logic. I had trouble with accuracy with them before, but my current one seems pretty good.

[JasonJayhawk]

I received the free BD meter via UPS this week. It came with 50 strips. VERY awesome -- without insurance or a job (until I finish school...), it was extremely helpful.

Strangely enough, BD only sent the meter to me after I said that I have Insurance, and pay for my strips via a Copay. Both are lies -- I pay out of pocket...but when I was truthful and claimed I paid out of pocket, it sent a $40 off a BD glucose meter when buying one box of strips. Not very helpful to me.

Now I can can try to get BD strips off of eBay before the Medicare/Medicaid strip dealers on eBay bid high prices on those strips, too (I used to be able to get 100 Freestyle strips for $25 until those test strip dealers started bidding on them...). It's a shame our insurance prices are going up simply because people are getting extra strips and then turning around, selling them, for a huge profit -- without even the thought of a donation.

[rzrbks]

>>>>>Bump<<<<<<<<<

[Dewey]

Originally posted by rzrbks
>>>>>Bump<<<<<<<<<

LOL, Rzr! Bumpin' it up a notch, eh?

[jared]

Dewey it only took 1 week after I placed my order to receive the new meter i like it b/c it is a whole lot faster than my old accu-check and it only requires verry little blood..... but I am checking on different meters to see which one I like best... I am going to Wal-Mart today and using a coupon from freestyle flash for only 10.00... cant beat that.... can you guys please post different meter companines? Im still working on free meters to see which one I like best... thanks

[Dewey]

Originally posted by jared
can you guys please post different meter companines? Im still working on free meters to see which one I like best... thanks

There are quite a few meter vendors out there, but I can give a good website that lists many of them:

Children With Diabetes

Children With Diabetes offers good information on the various meters. I also gave names (and sites, respectively below) of the various meter companies (along with some meter names), as a few may not be listed on the CWD site...

1. Abbott (Medisense-Precision QID, Xtra, Freestyle, Softact)
2. Ascencia (A Bayer Company - Dex2, Breeze, Contour & Elite/XL)
3. BD (Makers of the BD Latitude and Logic)
4. CheckMate Plus (never heard of them, but a small meter...lol)
5. Focus (do not know if they're available in the US)
6. GlucoWatch (Cygnus - still need to reference w/another meter)
7. Home Diagnostics (Prestige IQ Meter - requires large sample)
8. Hypoguard (Make the Advance Micro-Draw and Quick-Tek)
9. Lifescan (Ultra, UltraSmart, Fast Take, InDuo, SureStep..)
10. Reli-On (Reli-On, NewTek and Ultima Meters)
11. Roche Diagnostics (Accu-Check Active, Advantage, Compact, Complete...)
1. Abbott Diabetes
2. Bayer Diagnostics
3. BD Diabetes Care
4. Check Mate Plus (Made by QuestStar, didn't have a page though)
5. Quest Star Medical (Focus)
6. Gluco Watch Cygnus
7. Home Diagnostics
8. HypoGuard
9. LifeScan
10. Reli-On
11. Accu-Check Meters

[KLD]

Here is a website that describes most of the current meters available and gives a description of them all. In many cases there are links to the manufacturer's websites as well as reviews of many of the meters.

http://www.mendosa.com/meters.htm

Karen

[gettingby]

Here ya go Meech. Bump !!!!!! Gotta keep it where we can see it.

[jared]

bump it up a notch

[Funnygrl]

Is there a way to tack this up to the top?