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Broken monitor!

W

Willi1I

Newbie
Messages
1
so I’ve had diabetes about 6/7 months and tonight I went on a night out for the first time. I obviously took my monitor with me and was very careful kept checking my blood sugar. Anyway long story short a drink must have spilt on my monitor at some point because I’ve woken up having a hypo and it won’t turn on at all. I have had a hypo treatment and starting to feel okay now but have no idea what I’m going to do! I can’t manage without a monitor!!

Has anyone had an issue like this before or know what I need to do?
 
I dunked my meter in a cup of boiling coffee the other morning, it died completely once I got it out and shook the liquid out of it.

Abbot troubleshooted it on the phone and it would not work still.

It was hot day here Friday and it dried out completely and now turns back on, I have not used as it needs setting up again. I have been using my Performa meter till Abbot me new one next week.

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/abbot-freestyle-freedom-lite-meter-rip.158577/
 

Hi @Willi1I

Welcome to the forum.

I'm not sure what type of meter you use.. Have a word with your sugery or D clinic. Someone there may leave a replacement meter at reception to pick up?
If you happen to use an Accu-Chek meter?
You can call the Roche company helpline & they will send you one for free.
I actually got a spare sent with a natty case too!

It is possible to dry out electronic devices & for them to work. Though it's best to remove any batteries & leave any covers for these compartments open while any moisture steadily evaporates as the unit dries out..

Yep, it can happen. I've dropped my meter countless times.

Good luck!
 

Will, my comments assume you are T1. For today, if you call into Boots or any other pharmacy, they will likely have meters for sale, including a few strips to cover today. Tomorrow, you could contact your clinic, and they should be able to arrange something for you. Alternatively, your GP may be able to write a on-off prescription for any meters they have lying around the surgery (the nurses usually have some in a drawer or cupboard), which again would act as a stop-gap.

When all this is sorted, it really is sensible to have a spare meter. Your clinic, or the manufacturers would help with this.
 
Why not buy the cheap Codefree monitor that many here use and keep it as a spare in case of accidents with your other one
 
Pinkorchid said:
Why not buy the cheap Codefree monitor that many here use and keep it as a spare in case of accidents with your other one
Click to expand...
Because strips have expiration dates, it is best for a spare meter to use the same strips as the main meter.
Otherwise when your main meter fails, you have a backup meter but nothing to use with it.
Also, with type 1 in the UK trips should be available on prescription so there is no need to buy any strips.
I agree a spare meter is a good idea but best if this is provided by the diabetes team.
 
Pinkorchid said:
Why not buy the cheap Codefree monitor that many here use and keep it as a spare in case of accidents with your other one
Click to expand...

Provided the OP is T1, their clinic, or their main meter manufacturer will provide spare meter. For anyone taking insulin a spare makes sense, but keeping in-date strips, only available online seems to add a complicating factor - bearing in mind the OP can have no idea if or when she might need to call upon the spare.

Far better, in my view, to stick with the same meter and be able to move across seamlessly, with consumables already on prescription, and likely already at home.
 
I suppose that is right strips do go out of date so not knowing when we need them would not make it very economic
 
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