[DanG]

I wonder what year you got your first blood glucose meter?

I recall my first was in 1988 or so. The idea of an actual bs at home was amazing after years of satisfaction with testape. Ahh, testape was a godsend after the little vial and tablets - by... BD? or was it Lilly? who made testape and the vial/tablets kit?

I don't recall the name on my first bs meter, but it was made by the company that became lifescan Johnson & Johnson. I was so pleased to find the insurance company paid for the meter and strips - of course now we all know the strips pay for the meter - the meter is free - they gotcha with the strips. Anyhoo, that first meter was a wonderful device.

[RobiJo]

1984? Glucometer original. It was brownish and there was a flap over where you put the strip. (to block out light?) Blood on the strip, wait, rinse, insert in machine, wait, results in 90 seconds (or maybe it was 60?) I used that one until 1990 something. I do believe it was my first one, but I was 2 at the time so what do I know. I do know that when I was 9ish, I figured out my number would be lower if rinsed the strip longer.

[xMenace]

Originally Posted by RobiJo

1984? Glucometer original. It was brownish and there was a flap over where you put the strip. (to block out light?) Blood on the strip, wait, rinse, insert in machine, wait, results in 90 seconds (or maybe it was 60?) I used that one until 1990 something. I do believe it was my first one, but I was 2 at the time so what do I know. I do know that when I was 9ish, I figured out my number would be lower if rinsed the strip longer.

I think I had the same Glucometer. I remember very little about it. 1985 or 1986¿

[Tattoo azz]

Crikey ermm 1982 a bloody great brick of a thing made by Boehringer i think took abt 1minute to test had an old Autolet lancet looked like a medievel torture device and i also used to test my pee with a type of tablet tht you put in your pee and it would bubble and get really hot and then change colour dependant on your sugar

[RobiJo]

Originally Posted by xMenace

I think I had the same Glucometer. I remember very little about it. 1985 or 1986¿

I was trying to find a picture of it online... couldn't find one in the brief time I looked. I did go through some stuff on Mendoza's site that talked about it. I guess it was actually made by Accu-chek, was called Glucometer, and since Glucometer has become to meters, what Kleenex became for tissues. To most it means the same thing.

Next time I visit my parents I'll dig around for my old stuff. I'm sure my mom didn't let me throw it out as she keeps everything, but I may have to dig.

I remember that meter did not have a memory so one time while staying with my grandparents, I'd turn it off before Gramma could see the result. I'd then tell her a different number. (I used to get into the cookie jar there a lot.) I wasn't "smart" enough though and still wrote the real number in my log book. At the end of the weekend Gramma told mom my bgs were great, and then mom saw my log book. Boy was I in trouble!

[RobiJo]

Originally Posted by Tattoo azz

had an old Autolet lancet looked like a medievel torture device

Yep. I had that one too. My poor little 2 year fingers! It's amazing I have any feeling in them at all now. To think of the amounts of blood you used to need!

See previous post. I need to find this old tools, take pictures, and post!

I think I just barely missed that peeing in a tube deal. Oh and the needle you had to resharpen. whew!

[RobiJo]

Just talked to my mom. She traded in my "olde" meter for a newer one back when you still actually had to pay for meters. She said she took a picture of it though and was going to look for that and the medieval poker.

[KCP]

I so cant remember but it was when i was first 'diagnosed' in 1991.. Something about Boehringer mannheim?? A BM machine i used to call it..

[RobiJo]

My mom found the original owners manual. Here's a picture.
According to the specs in the book it weighs 3/4 pound or 330 grams when all 4 needed batteries are in.



It's description.


Procedure for doing a bg.

[notme]

I got my first meter while I was in the hospital. My Dad bought it for $200.00 and brought it to me and never even checked to see if it was covered by insurance. He was devistated. I remember having to blot the strip before you inserted it. Kind of messy. The results took a minute or more. My meter looked a little like this one.

[Dewey]

My first meter was the Glucochek S.C. by Larken. I got it in 1984, and it took about
2 minutes to read the BG and took a 9 volt
battery...



The second meter I got was the Glucometer M (had a little bit of a memory in it),
and it looked like the one RobiJo posted a pic of. It took about a minute or so for a
reading (I can't remember the exact time frame, but it was a bit long, especially when
compared to meters of today!).

Here's a pic I found on the web that looks exactly like mine (I cropped it):



I still have both meters! The Glucochek still has a battery in it & still kinda works (with the exception of when we upgraded, we had to give the little piece that holds the strip in place, which was supposed to render the meter useless).

[gettingby]

Originally Posted by Dewey

My first meter was the Glucochek S.C. by Larken. I got it in 1984, and it took about
2 minutes to read the BG and took a 9 volt
battery...



The second meter I got was the Glucometer M (had a little bit of a memory in it),
and it looked like the one RobiJo posted a pic of. It took about a minute or so for a
reading (I can't remember the exact time frame, but it was a bit long, especially when
compared to meters of today!).

Here's a pic I found on the web that looks exactly like mine (I cropped it):



I still have both meters! The Glucochek still has a battery in it & still kinda works (with the exception of when we upgraded, we had to give the little piece that holds the strip in place, which was supposed to render the meter useless).

I remember you and I discussing this. I believe the Glucometer M was my first meter. Times sure have changed.

[Tattoo azz]

has it really been 25 years?? i remember the traffic light book, green was ok to eat, amber was have a small bit but safer if you didn't and red was no effing way are you gonna eat that!!
, and i felt so alone thankfully all the newbies don't have to go thru that thanks to all the pioneers before us. Ha! bluetooth meters, pumps 3 second testing how lucky we are

[UpNorth]

This kind was my first... I've only had diabetes since 2004 so

[danlad72]

lol the autulet lancet!!! i remember them and the whole chemistry set for the urine testing.
Does anybody else remember the days before disposable needles? I had this huge glass thing we kept in white spirits. Absolutely horrific!!