Blood glucose meters which are the best?

iHs

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,595
The best meter to have is one that is reliable in starting up, small and lightweight, has decent display screen and requires a very small amount of blood on teststrip. Frequent bg monitoring wnich is essential with mdi and pumps leads to more fingerpricks so makes sense to save yr fingers and get teststrips that require less blood

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people

logindetails

Well-Known Member
Messages
297
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Neuropathy :-(
I have just received an Accu Check mobile. I set it all up and did my first reading which was 9.00 I thought this was a bit high for what I had eaten so I did 3 further tests on 3 different meters they read 6.0, 6.1 and 6.3. I'm now a bit reluctant to use the Mobile as it seems to be reading much too high. Has anyone else had this problem with this meter ?


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
Frequently - I've got 3 of them and they are the most inconsistent meters I own - the finger prickers good though if not a little on the large size.
 

ChloeAlisha

Member
Messages
14
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi guys I hope you are all well :)

I entered a few competitions and won some different blood glucose monitors one of them is a Bayer Contour Next USB and the other is a OneTouch Verio IQ.. I was wondering if any of you guys use either both or one of these and could give me any info regarding them.

My current monitor is a FreeStyle Optium which I haven't had many problems with but feel it could be better, I've used this one since being diagnosed in April 2012 so approaching that two year mark now with not much improvement on getting my BS down but I received a letter this morning informing me I've been invited to do the DAFNE course FINALLY!!! :) been waiting a long time for this and hopefully it will stop the nurses telling me off for high-ish readings and better control.. All though I'm doing everything I possibly can to lower them with diet and exercise and obviously my medication too.as we all know it's a struggle..

Anyways sorry for blabbing on, if anyone can tell me which are the best out of the monitors I've mentioned I would be very grateful!!


All the best and thanks everyone!!

Kerry x


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

I use the accu check aviva expert. Its easy to use, and you can also have the option to put in a bolus advise system which works on your insulin ratios and the amount of carbohydrates you're having to give you how many units you need to inject.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 

runner2009

Well-Known Member
Messages
333
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Diabetes
Hi Kerry

I have 6 meter, my new one is the Accu Check One Touch Ultra. My favorite is the Bayer Contour Next USB - I've compared all of them and sometimes they test different numbers but they are close enough.


Sent from Runner2009 Burt
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people

phil55494

Active Member
Messages
38
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
The best blood glucose meter to have is the one you'll use.

I've got a freestyle optium, I like it. As has been said you can insert the test strips without fully removing them from the packaging. It also will test for blood ketones with the right sort of strips (which you can get on prescrtiption).
Before that I had a Bayer Breeze and Breeze 2 for about 10 years. 10 strips on a disk which means you always get something factory fresh.
I changed because the nurse at the GP said the pct/ccg wasn't funding any other sort of test strips. My GP said ********, as you're type 1 I'll prescribe the kind and number of test strips you want!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people

tomvonc

Well-Known Member
Messages
228
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Anyone who asks a question about diabetes without thinking what they're asking.
The Contour Next is a fantastic little meter and plugs straight into the USB port of your computer, the downside is the finger lancer which is next to useless but you can use one from another meter if you choose.
Agreed on the pricker. Larger than the meter itself and burtal! I use the OneTouch Delica Lancer. Great coated 33g pins. Completely painless as long as I don't let the lancet go blunt :-/

Tom
 

noblehead

Guru
Retired Moderator
Messages
23,618
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
Disrespectful people
Agreed on the pricker. Larger than the meter itself and burtal! I use the OneTouch Delica Lancer. Great coated 33g pins. Completely painless as long as I don't let the lancet go blunt :-/

Tom

I used the Multiclix finger pricker that comes with the Accu-Chek meters as it a good lancing device and has 6 lancets per drum, why oh why Contour included that contraption with a good meter like the USB Next I'll never know.
 

mo1905

BANNED
Messages
4,334
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Rude people !
When looking to choose a new meter, bear in mind that a good option is one that is also capable of testing for ketones. Many don't. I use the Glucomen LX Plus which does. It is fairly big but I trust the readings. Docs don't advocate the use of ketostix now as the results cannot be relied on.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 

AlexMBrennan

Well-Known Member
Messages
385
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
On the other hand, most manufacturers tend to give away meters for free so getting a 2nd meter to test for ketones doesn't cost you anything.
 

ChloeAlisha

Member
Messages
14
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I have just received an Accu Check mobile. I set it all up and did my first reading which was 9.00 I thought this was a bit high for what I had eaten so I did 3 further tests on 3 different meters they read 6.0, 6.1 and 6.3. I'm now a bit reluctant to use the Mobile as it seems to be reading much too high. Has anyone else had this problem with this meter ?


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

The accucheck meter should have come with two blue liquids that are used to calibrate the system to give an accurate reading. If it didn't, just call accucheck and they should send you a few bottles xx

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 

Spiker

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,685
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
The accucheck meter should have come with two blue liquids that are used to calibrate the system to give an accurate reading. If it didn't, just call accucheck and they should send you a few bottles xx

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
After just one single unusual reading, I would recalibrate the finger (wash it), not recalibrate the meter.

For multiple unusual readings off a meter, after washing hands etc, fair enough.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people

mattmo86

Well-Known Member
Messages
51
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Im using Accuchek Aviva Expert, is pretty good as long as ratios for carbs and insulin are correct, cant seem to get mine right, no matter how hard I try. But that's another story.

Would recommend this meter to anyone.
 

Jaz253

Active Member
Messages
41
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Government politic management anywhere, extreme religion approach, uninformed doctors
I could tell u that the OneTouch is greatly accurate. Thats the reason I bought it, cause it showed the same results as the labs. The strips price though is a little higher :( but it is quite comfortable and has never given me any issue in the last 6 years.
Best of luck!
 

Kerry-Michelle

Well-Known Member
Messages
176
Thanks again for all your replies!! :) I'm still sticking with my freestyle at the moment but a bit concerned as this week I haven't had the best readings they've been a bit all over the place, my levels have been high-ish for the past 6 months by high-ish I mean from 10.2-16.4mmol however this week I've had 4 lows /: I've kept to the same intake of food and insulin ect but as soon as my levels get to 5.8 I'm feeling low and then they just drop to 2.3 and lower in a matter of 5 mins.

Yesterday was two years to the day when I was diagnosed with type 1 and I spoke to my nurse this morning and she said that we will discuss this matter with my BS at my hospital appointment in two weeks /: fingers crossed they don't try to persuade me to have the pump, I don't want a pump and it will be awkward with my job aswell which I've told them so fingers crossed I used to have a terrible phobia of needles still do I can just manage to inject now /:
Looking forward to the DAFNE course in a few months :)

Anyway I hope everyone is well and have a lovely bank holiday weekend too!! :)

Kerry xx


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 

itconor

Well-Known Member
Messages
223
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I tend to stick to the acucheck mobile. Its so handy any no strips every where! It does seem to have a high rate of "not enough blood" despite there being plenty

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 

itconor

Well-Known Member
Messages
223
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I have just received an Accu Check mobile. I set it all up and did my first reading which was 9.00 I thought this was a bit high for what I had eaten so I did 3 further tests on 3 different meters they read 6.0, 6.1 and 6.3. I'm now a bit reluctant to use the Mobile as it seems to be reading much too high. Has anyone else had this problem with this meter ?


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

I only use the mobile . I admit I tend to feel a lot lower than it tends to think I am when hypo

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 

SpikeThacker

Well-Known Member
Messages
79
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
i have a frestyle optimum neo, which was given to me in hospital last month when my pancreas stopped working, and as i approach the dinosaur status of my life, i find it very easy to use, and i like the fact that you can rip the foil off the test strips in such a way that you never need to touch them with bare hands, so as not to give false readings
 

Crimsonclient

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,080
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
I'm using the iBG STAR , it's very small , it turns your iPhone into a monitor so you have always got it with you


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
I have the iBGStar but found that the results were on the high side however I use the BGStar and have the iphone lead to upload results and a lot more accurate


Type 2 diagnosed 24/01/2013.
Novomix 30, Victoza, Simvistatin.
 

spaceman

Well-Known Member
Messages
266
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
The Accu-Check Mobile works for me too.. I've had it a couple of months, but I'm finding the process of getting the cartridges from the chemist with my repeat prescription a bit of a hassle in respect of having to go back a couple of days later because they have to be "ordered in".
I recently spent 2 weeks up in Suffolk & my usual chemist in the south west had to get me another prescription so I could take it up there after they screwed up the order I was due to pick up on a retune from working in Holland before going away to Suffolk..
Even the Suffolk chemist had to order in for the following day..

I'd say check with your doc or specialist & make sure they prescribe the relevant strips or cartridges before finalising a decision on your choice of meter..
As I found out from the apothecary in Suffolk, the local health authority is a bit tight prescribing the Mobile cartridges as opposed to the BANES area I'm registered to.