[chris.marylu]

I have a couple questions to ask, I hope you don't mind.

1. Is it important as a Diabetic to have a back up meter?

2. When testing if you use an alcohol swab to clean the area prior, could it affect the test results?

Thank you for listening..
Chris

[Subby]

1. Useful, if you lose your first... is that important? Up to you.

2. There's debate about that. But seeing that it's just not necessary, my thought is why not just bypass it all together. The idea is to have hands clean as in free from food and sweat, not clean as in perfectly sterile. If your hands are dirty, basic hand washing will do. Be sure to rinse and dry well.

[Mothernature]

I do have alcohol swabs in my meter case. I've found myself out without places to wash my hands- beaches, boats, buses, stores without a public bathroom, etc.

I've found little issue using the swabs except when I've applied sunscreen.

Yes, I tend to test on the go often.

[kgm0612]

1. Is it important as a Diabetic to have a back up meter?

I have several, all One Touch brands. I use one of them exclusively, keep one at work, and have another in my nightstand next to the bed.

2. When testing if you use an alcohol swab to clean the area prior, could it affect the test results?

I keep a few packages of swabs in with my meter but only use them in a pinch. I always wash my hands with soap & water prior to testing.

Karen

[morrisma]

Spare meters are essential to me. I do not use them (the spres0 often but without a meter I feel lost so the spare at work has saved me on occasion. I also use only one meter primarily to keep my averages as close to accurate as possible.

As for the wipes: I rarely ever use them. I test almost exclusively on my arm so that cuts the need drastically as my arms almost never get where my fingers do ) My biggest complaint is that the alcohol stings sometimes so I avoid that.
Mike

[foxl]

If you buy a cheap drugstore-brand for a backup, or find a freebie somewhere, should be fine. My husband has picked up FIVE drugstore meters. If only he tested more often, now!

For T2 or preD, though ... I know some who NEVER test. (I think they NEED to, but my point is you really could go for days without testing, once you know how much of which foods work).

[jimhuck]

1. I would definitely have a backup meter. Batteries go dead, meters break. You wouldn't wanto to get stuck going to a drug store on a sunday night looking for a BG meter.

2. I wouldn't use alcohol. Any contaminents can mess up your readings. I just make sure my hands are clean. I've had readings as high as 400 because I had food on my hands.